Nicole O’Reilly, Ph.D.

Nicole O’Reilly wants her students to “grow in their self-awareness, as this will help them grow into successful social workers, community members, and all-around good humans.” She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Shippensburg University, an M.S. in Social Work from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

I have been a social worker at heart long before I began my college journey. I have always had an interest in the well-being of people and communities, with a strong draw to the core values of social work, especially social justice and the importance of human relationships. I have worked in a variety of social work settings, including intimate partner violence and sexual assault, the criminal justice system, children’s mental health, early childhood trauma, and community health research and planning. My current research focuses on food access and food security, and my teaching spans the generalist curriculum.

My above work spanned various professional settings, including not-for-profit organizations, for-profit consulting, and public agencies. Prior to joining the Social Work Department at McDaniel College, I was on the faculty in the School of Social Work at Boise State University, where I taught Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work students and coordinated the bachelor’s program for several years.

My initial interest in McDaniel was based on the fit between my academic experience and the job opening. I was also interested in returning to the East Coast to be closer to my family and friends in the area. After my initial visit to the campus, I was excited to join the faculty and work with students in a smaller, more intimate setting. I am also a big fan of live music, including bluegrass, which I quickly learned is a big part of Common Ground on the Hill and McDaniel College. It felt like a great fit and a new adventure while returning home.

Their time at McDaniel is just the beginning of their social work journey. Much of their growth in knowledge, skills, and values will come from their experiences in the field. Because of this, I want students to get the basic content needed as bachelor-level social workers. But more importantly, I want them to find out what helps them learn, and where to go to find information when they graduate. Finally, it’s OK to be wrong, or to not know something. Students are here to learn, and so am I! Just be upfront about it, take responsibility, and find out the answers.