Kaelyn Hartwell’s decision to major in social work was shaped by both nature and nurture. Influenced by her mother's career as a school social worker and her own drive to help others, Kaelyn felt the field would be a good fit for her interest in pursuing a career in advocacy.

“Growing up, I saw my mom in action – on calls or making home visits – and I've just always had an interest in benefitting the public good, so that’s what drew me to social work,” says the University of South Carolina freshman. “Social work also offers a broad perspective for understanding societal issues that is beneficial for a variety of career opportunities, including advocacy.”

Her mother Angela Hartwell, who earned her master’s degree at USC in 2002, also says social work is a profession that was “gifted” to her through her childhood experiences.

“I was raised around social work and learned to understand family dynamics at a very early age,” Angela says. 

Although her great-grandmother was not a licensed foster parent, she cared for children in the community whose families were dealing with hardships. Her grandmother was a licensed foster parent, and her parents adopted a child.

“I’m so excited for Kaelyn to be a social worker,” Angela says. “Kaelyn is not me. She is absolutely a leader, and she is going to be an advocate for social work and practitioners like me who provide direct services.”

Kaelyn hopes to work in education policy and advocacy after observing educational disparities firsthand as a volunteer for a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School. She served as a reading tutor in the literacy and cultural enrichment program during the summer after her graduation from Spring Valley High School in northeast Columbia, South Carolina.

Her mom’s career with Richland 2 School District's Child Development and Windsor Elementary School in northeast Columbia also contributed to her interest in education. In 2023-2024, Angela was recognized as Learning Support Staff Services Person of the Year for the district.

“The goal for our social work team is to provide a strong connection between home and school to support families,” Angela says. “We provide direct services and connect families with community resources to alleviate barriers they may face such as housing, food insecurity, or academic and behavioral needs.”

She also has been a mentor to many social work students, and in 2024, she was selected as the college’s Field Educator of the Year.

“She truly believes in the importance of field education and is someone who both models what it means to be a change maker and translates this to students in a way that they can internalize and put into practice,” says professor Ben Roth.

Angela credits her field supervisors for giving her a strong foundation for her career and emphasizes the importance of giving back to the profession by helping to train social work interns and giving them confidence to rely on their education as they provide support to families.

“Everyone will encounter social work at some point in their lives, whether it's for a family member or child with a disability, in a hospital, for elder care or other support services,” Angela says. “I pride myself in being an ethical practicing social worker, being honest and direct, treating individuals with respect, and being a calm force in complicated situations.”

Kaelyn carries this same kind of commitment forward, Roth says. As a freshman, she is involved in community service and several campus mentorship programs that are targeted to new students as well as to women and multicultural students. For her community involvement and desire to benefit others, Kaelyn received the Carly June Hudson Scholarship.

“Kaelyn is driven and has a real idea of who she wants to be as a social worker — likely inspired by her mom, but completely her own,” Roth says. “She has a vision for how (and where) to make a difference in the world.” 

Although Kaelyn is following her mother into social work, Angela expects her daughter to discover her own path.

“She has a foundation from the family and community work I've done, but I don't see her walking directly in my shoes,” Angela says. “I see her jetting off into leadership and advocacy, and that will make my social work heart very happy.”

Kaelyn calls her mom an inspiration and is excited for what comes next.

“I have a couple more years to figure out where my journey will take me, she says. “There are so many people in Columbia who have helped me get to where I am today. Many people could use that same type of support, and that is why I am driven to give back to the community that raised me.”