Dr. David Tranter
The field of social work is anything but confined.
Before coming to Lakehead, Dr. David Tranter worked in a range of settings with children, families and couples, homeless persons, individuals with psychiatric disabilities, and survivors of sexual abuse. Now as an academic, his myriad of research directions includes personal and social change, differences and conflict in relationships, community engagement and development, and youth recreation and leadership.
To facilitate research in the community, he's developed an initiative called "adopt an agency", through which himself and his students partner with an agency each year to pursue a project. Recently, students had an opportunity to work with the United Way, examine the impact of the City of Thunder Bay's Positive Recreation Opportunities for Kids Program, and help out with AIDS Thunder Bay's Engaging Populations at Risk study.
Dr. Tranter also recently travelled with his students to a ten-day study tour in Cuba. Sponsored by the Cuban Women's Federation, the group had an opportunity to visit the local inner-city artist program, explore the Paola Freire Institute, and attend a children's music program at the Karl Marx Theatre. Dr. Tranter reflects that for all involved, it was the trip of a lifetime. "All of my graduate students said it was the single most powerful and educational experience that they have ever had."
What separates Lakehead's MSW from all others?
Dr. Tranter believes it to be the close working relationships with professors and the program's flexibility. "We are able to sit down with each student, talk at length about their interests and aspirations, and develop with them a graduate experience that really meets their needs." As an example, when students expressed an interest in development work in Africa, not only were they able to complete a lot of related coursework - they were also able to travel to Africa to complete their practicum and research.
Dr. Tranter adds that while his graduates find work locally as well as around the world, they're all actively contributing towards enhancing quality of life. "The graduate students that I have worked with have readily found interesting and meaningful jobs within the profession and are truly doing work that gives them a sense of purpose and contribution."