Joleen Gould 2026 BSW Intern of the Year

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am from Glendale, California, near Los Angeles. I grew up with my grandparents in the house along with my parents and 4 siblings. I moved to Texas in 2022 and I am now married to the love of my life, Chisholm, and we live in Waco with our cat, Thor. At Baylor,  I was involved in the ASL Club, served as Secretary for 2 years and I absolutely loved it

What led you to social work? Are there populations or areas of social work you are particularly interested in?

I chose social work to help people. I found that I could advocate for people and problem solve with individuals to help them better themselves and their situation. I would say that social work is the perfect fit for my calling. I believe God called me to serve people by doing what I do best: problem solve. As soon as I decided to pursue social work, so many doors opened up and I felt God’s affirmation.

I am passionate about working with older adults and deaf adults.  I have a minor in American Sign Language. After social work, ASL is the best choice I could have made for my education at Baylor. I have a whole new perspective on Deaf Culture and ASL itself. I also met so many wonderful and wise people along the way.

What did you enjoy most about Baylor’s BSW Program?

I started classes at Baylor in the Summer of 2021 because I did Baylor Accelerate. I started my undergrad in 2022 as a pre-nursing major planning to go to Baylor’s nursing school in Dallas. I chose to switch to Baylor social work because I realized I did not have the passion needed to be a nurse, but I still wanted to help people. I learned about social work and switched immediately. My family was not surprised with my decision and that helped confirm my calling.

My favorite social work class has to be Aging and Mental Health. I learned more about the population I love, and I met my favorite professor, Dr. Jocelyn McGee. The class coming in close second would have to be Human Behavior and the Social Environment II. Such a great class filled with learning and wisdom.

Tell us about your internship, and what you have learned from your experience in the field.

My internship placement was at St. Anthony’s Care Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility. I learned so much from my experience here and I can take all of that with me into my career. I learned that working with an interdisciplinary team requires open and honest communication. I learned that working with older adults, especially those experiencing cognitive decline, requires patience, compassion, and empathy. This is not a field to shut off one’s emotions but instead use them to further advocate for and serve these individuals. I enjoyed the people I worked alongside, especially my Social Work Supervisor. She taught me everything I know about being a social worker in a SNF and about being a great team player. She cares about people and doesn’t just see this as a job, but as her calling. I desire to be her when I grow up.  

What does this award mean to you?

This award is just another confirmation to me that I am exactly where God wants me. I am going into the right profession with the right population and that I learned from the right people. This award means so much to me and I did not even expect it. I was even joking with my Social Work Supervisor about it, not knowing it would become a reality. I could not have done this without her.

What are your plans after graduation and what advice would you give to students coming behind you?

I am currently pursuing my MSW from Baylor and then, planning to become a Social Worker in a Skilled Nursing Facility. I have truly found my calling.

We are called to Love God and Love People. As social workers and future social workers, what we do for other people has to come from the love of people or we are going to get burnt out and become resentful of those we serve. With God as our strength and the source of that love, we can do anything and serve anyone, even those hard populations. Keep an open mind and an open heart to what He has for you and He will guide you. Within the burn out and stress of serving others, lean on Him for rest and comfort because you can’t do it alone. “Where He guides, He provides” Isaiah 58:11. If He has called you to social work and to serve a certain population, He will guide you through it. I definitely could not have gotten here if I did not rely on God and the people He has placed in my life. Love well and love all. – Joleen Gould

What others say about Joleen.

"Joleen interned at an assisted living facility in Waco, where she met with residents on a regular basis and ensured they were receiving proper care from the staff at the facility. Joleen had a heart for serving older adults and recognized the importance of caring for the growing number of aging Americans. She constantly evaluated her facility's effectiveness, and she was honest during class about times that the facility had not lived up to its reputation and the challenges of being a social worker in a medical setting. However, she always kept a positive attitude and viewed internship setbacks as a way to grow as a social worker and as a young woman."

"Throughout her placement, Joleen consistently demonstrated excellence in performance and a genuine commitment to the values of the social work profession. She thoughtfully applied knowledge that she learned from her classroom professors to real-world practice, showing strong skills, sound judgment, and compassion in all of her interactions. Joleen regularly took initiative and sought out opportunities to grow by asking insightful questions and taking on appropriate leadership roles that added meaningful value to her work. She approached challenges with critical thinking and often offered innovative ideas that strengthened both client services and team processes. Joleen was a true team player who contributed positively to collaboration and morale with the interdisciplinary team while maintaining the highest level of professionalism. Most importantly, she showed deep dedication to serving and advocating for our geriatric client population. Everyday, Joleen balanced her own learning with a sincere commitment to bettering the lives of the residents at St. Anthony's Care Center. Joleen’s professionalism, empathy, and drive make her an outstanding intern and a well‑deserving candidate for this recognition."