Earning a bachelor’s degree at Olivet Nazarene University can be the first step into a life filled with promise and success. Many students take the next step of earning a master’s or doctorate degree while others head straight into a job to start their careers.
Olivet The Magazine recently spoke with six outstanding young alumni who are continuing to pursue a higher purpose as they build on the experiences of their higher education.
Jacie Wolfe ’22
Major: Social Work; Minor: Criminal Justice
Master of Social Work, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois Chicago
Early in her college experience at Olivet, Jacie Wolfe quickly developed the desire to attend graduate school. This desire, born from the idea of career enhancement, turned into a realistic goal that she could achieve during her upper-division courses in the social work program. Dr. Rachel Guimond, former chair of the Department of Social Work and Criminal Justice, played an instrumental role by helping her understand the many possibilities and opportunities that a graduate degree offered. Beyond this, Jacie credits her decision to continue her education to her experiences in her undergrad program
“My time at Olivet led to an opportunity to pursue an internship with the Kankakee [County] state’s attorney office, which allowed me to delve into work in both social work and criminal justice,” she says. “The experience confirmed the desire to further my education.”
After graduating from Olivet, Jacie went on to the University of Illinois Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work to pursue a Master of Social Work degree specializing in justice systems. The program is one of the only graduate tracks in the United States that focuses on social work and the criminal legal system.
“My academic experiences at Olivet aided me in developing a higher purpose in my professional pursuits by anchoring everything I do to glorify the Lord,” Jacie reflects. “Through my studies at ONU, I learned how our careers and faith do not have to be separate. They co-exist into your calling and work together to serve the Kingdom. I am excited to see how the Lord will continue to use me in this field.”
From Olivet The Magazine, Strength & Hope – Autumn 2023. Read the full issue HERE.
