KINGSVILLE (December 14, 2022) — A graduate student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville recently received a $3,000 Career Development Grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). The recipient, Vanessa Muniz, is currently pursuing her master’s degree in social work and expected to graduate in May 2023.
Muniz said the grant will go towards her tuition and research. The overall focus of her research has been mental healthcare and wellness in conjunction with resources in South Texas.
“Throughout the master of social work generalist program, we complete a field practicum each semester, so we get two years of training, where we are placed at a local agency to learn and apply practice methods of social work under a licensed social worker,” Muniz said.
“I have been focusing on mental healthcare, therapy techniques and wellness for children in the school setting throughout my first year and extended that framework this year to family, caregivers and what resources are available to those in our area.”
She said after graduation, she plans to apply for the state licensure exam and continue her education to pursue a clinical license to practice social work in the state of Texas. Muniz would like to be a family therapist or medical social worker and continue to assist those underrepresented in South Texas.
The AAUW Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce in education, health and medical sciences, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) or social sciences.
About the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
The AAUW is one of the world’s oldest leading supporters of graduate women’s education. Since 1888, it has awarded more than $135 million in fellowships, grants and awards to 13,000 women from 150 countries. For the 2022-23 academic year, the organization awarded an unprecedented $6 million through its fellowships and grants programs to 320 scholars and community projects that promote education for women and girls.
Educational funding is especially important for women since they are disproportionately burdened by student debt, which is exacerbated by a lifelong pay gap that affects women in nearly every profession. The pay gap widens over time and has broad negative impacts on women’s economic security—from making it difficult to pay college tuition to reducing the ability to save for retirement. AAUW’s awards alleviate financial stress so women can focus on their educational and career aspirations.
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