LSU School of Social Work Recognizes Joshua Wartelle, LCSW as Outstanding Supervisor

LSU School of Social Work would like to recognize Joshua Wartelle as an outstanding field education supervisor!  

Our students’ journey to become the next generation of social workers is only possible with the help of our field education supervisors who give them the opportunity to complete internships. We thank our supervisors for their hard work and dedication to our students and want to share more of their stories.  

Joshua Wartelle is a clinical social worker who comes from a family of educators and has a father who´s a hospital administrator. He says that the field of social work ¨just makes sense¨ for him.

Wartelle´s internship supervisor journey started when he met student interns while working for Start Corporation, a non-profit organization, at the One Stop Drop-In Center, a homeless services center. There he began working with interns while introducing in-person services at the height of the pandemic, making an already difficult job even harder.

Wartelle says some of his most memorable moments are when students have “light bulb” moments by making connections from class material to internship experience. “It is rewarding to see the progress students make through the process,” he says.

One specific intern, Wartelle recalls, opened up to him by discussing and challenging herself and her own biases. “I think what benefits myself and students is that I am able to spend a significant amount of time with students. In my current role, students literally spend the whole day with me and are truly a part of the team at the clinic.” 

Wartelle encourages his students to get as much experience as possible to be prepared for their career. He has students participate in direct practice, community outreach, and the day-to-day operations at a clinic.

“It is a rewarding experience, a great way to give back, and such an honor to be a part of upcoming social workers’ journeys and learning,” Wartelle says. “It is such an honor to be acknowledged for my work as a supervisor and I recommend it to social workers in the community.”

LSU School of Social Work is so grateful for its wonderful supervisors like Joshua Wartelle who help our students get the experience they need. We’re always looking for more supervisors across the country to contribute their time and knowledge to create the next generation of social workers.

To learn more about becoming a supervisor for the LSU School of Social Work, visit https://www.lsu.edu/chse/socialwork/current_students/field-education/field-placement-site-request.php.