Social Work Faculty Feature
Dr. Simon Funge | Assistant Professor
Courses: Field Seminar, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Research Methods, Social Work Practice with Individuals, Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
What is your favorite course to teach?
I love teaching Field Seminar. Students are in their internships at a community-based agency applying the knowledge and skills they've learned in the classroom. It's so rewarding to see them make the connections between their course work and the work they are doing with clients in the community.
What is your go-to advice for your students?
Trust the process. Sometimes we all get so focused on the task-at-hand that we forget what the ultimate goal is. For Social Work students the goal is to become the best practitioner they can be. Each of their classes prepares them with a foundation to be effective social workers - sometimes they may not realize the value of a class or an assignment until they are in the field. And then the light bulb goes off. "That's why we did that!"
What is your favorite item in your office?
A framed collage of photos from my years in practice as a community educator at the National Conference for Community and Justice in Long Beach, CA. It was a challenging job, but I grew immensely from the experience, and the photos include many of those colleagues and volunteers who helped me grow.
Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
I'm a board game geek.
What is on your bucket list?
To learn how to paint.