Kayleigh Pier ’23 continues social work passion with master’s program at Columbia University

Kayleigh Pier ’23, who majored in psychology and social work at Salve Regina, is completing an advanced standing master’s degree in social work at Columbia University. As Pier pursues her degree, she continues to reflect on the valuable experiences and insights garnered from her undergraduate experience that inspired her current path forward.

Experience in the psychology and social work programs

Originally from Connecticut, Pier wanted an undergraduate experience that emulated the feeling of her small hometown – thus leading her to Salve. “I was looking for a school that I could feel community in but still be able to meet a new face if I wanted,” she said. “Salve was the perfect place for me.”

Pier began her Salve Regina journey as a nursing major, but her growing interest in the helping professions led her to psychology and social work. “I didn’t really know what social work was before I came to Salve,” she said. “I learned that the values of both psychology and social work intertwined well with who I was, who I was raised to be and who I wanted to be.”

Both majors provide an exciting blend of coursework and fieldwork. “I’m a very experiential learner, so the fact that we had that built into our curriculum was incredible,” Pier said.

She is thankful to the dedicated professors in the psychology and social work departments, particularly Dr. Mary Montminy-Danna, professor and chair of the Department of Social Work, for providing strong foundations in both social work and compassion.

“Dr. Montminy-Danna challenges you to think more critically about how you interact with people and to be considerate about your interactions and your thought processes,” Pier said. “A lot of the ethics that I hold have come from my courses with her.”

Life at Columbia University

Columbia’s advanced standing program has allowed Pier to complete a practicum as a high school social worker in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. She takes on individual and group caseloads, aids in crisis intervention and provides students with valuable resources to promote their well being.

“Everybody has got things going on, and it’s become so evident how alone a lot of students feel and how much goes on in their heads,” she said. “Having that ability to access any student who needs help and support is why I love working in schools.”

Pier struggled with her mental health during her own high school experience. Her personal wellness journey has demonstrated to her how important resources are for adolescents in high school. “It’s a great access point for students, especially for students who might not have an awareness of things that are going on and the resources that they have and can use,” she said.

Her practicum has allowed Pier to nurture her passion for social work, and she hopes to continue this needed work with a young adult population when she graduates from Columbia in May.

Pier gives a lesson on healthy and unhealthy stress and ways to manage it.

Salve Regina’s continued influence

As her time in higher education comes to an end, Pier reflected on the valuable lessons she learned at Salve. “Having a small cohort at Salve allowed me to learn so much from the people around me,” she said. “Even now, I still have close relationships with the people that were in my social work classes, and if I’m having an issue or need advice, I can talk to them. I know that they come from the same educational standpoint, and they can not only help me, but challenge me as well.”

Pier challenges students who have a passion to trust their gut and explore every opportunity. “Be curious, let yourself explore and let yourself screw up – and screw up again,” she said. “Screwing up is perfectly allowed, and it’s going to help you grow. The person that’s going to inform you the most about what you should do and what you want to do is going to be you.”