July 14, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – When Lyndsay Martin started college she wanted to be a physician. But after “bombing” her first chemistry class, she quickly discovered her passion for social work.
Martin wanted her work to help others and have an impact on her community. She worked as a social work clinician and leader for 12 years with the Hope Network.
In 2020, she began working with her family's real estate business, but still wanted to be giving back to the community. When she got the opportunity to teach at GRCC, it felt like a natural fit. Now she gets to help prepare the next generation of social workers to enter the field.
“I love the opportunity to meet all of the students, learn what their career goals are and share in their experience of learning throughout the semester,” Martin said, “I love that GRCC has so many supports available to students and extracurricular activities students can choose to engage in as well.”
Martin teaches the Introduction Social Welfare and Social Work course. In this course students gain a lot of foundational knowledge about social welfare policies, their impact, the barriers facing people in our country, and how social work can be of service to them.
Martin emphasizes to her students the importance of self-care. Knowing that they can only care for their community and patients if they take care of themselves first.
Martin received her bachelor's degree in Social Work from Michigan State University, and her master’s degree in Social Work from Grand Valley State University.
More information about the Social Work program can be found here.
