Shakima Tozay, a Doctoral candidate at the University of Alabama School of Social Work, has not had the usual pathway to navigate the field of social work. Self-described as a “military social worker,” Tozay is well-versed in multiple different social work disciplines and social work-adjacent fields. Her introduction to the field of social work started during her time in the military as a residential addictions counselor and a foster care case worker. After pursuing a master’s and doctorate in Social Work, Tozay was selected to be a CSWE Policy Fellow for the 2022 Cohort.

Here is our Q&A with Shakima Tozay

Q- First, tell us a little about yourself, your background, where you are from, where you live and what you do now. Whatever you feel comfortable sharing.

A- I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. I joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. I have lived in many states and traveled abroad to Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Alaska, Hawaii, and even Antarctica. My service in the military brought me to Washington State, where I currently live with my spouse. I worked as an Operations Specialist in the Navy as a radar technician while stationed on the U.S.S. Camden A.O.E. 2, stationed out of Bremerton, WA.

I left the service in 2001 to pursue a different career and continue my education. I was unsure what to do, so I worked several jobs to figure out the best fit. I worked as a nurse’s aide, teacher’s assistant, foster care case aid, and residential addictions counselor. Holding many of these roles introduced me to the social services field.  

“I always say Social Work found me.“

– Shakima Tozay

Q- What first attracted you to Social Work, and what led you down this path?

A- I always say Social Work found me. I started a zig-zag path.  I initially gravitated towards law, teaching, and nursing. Still, I continued to seek out social services roles because I enjoyed the work and was passionate about making a real difference in the lives of people who needed it. Having grown up in the Bronx, I also witnessed a lot of trauma experiences at a young age. Social work’s social justice focus drew me to the profession. It was the only profession that seemed to center on advocating for disadvantaged communities and giving these communities the tools to navigate complex systems to receive the right care and services. I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary arts and sciences with a minor in education because I was still not sold on being a social worker then. As a child, I wanted to be a teacher and saw my strengths in that light, but a shift happened for me, and I pursued my master’s in social work from the University of Washington shortly after graduating. I believe I was drawn to the versatility of the degree, and I’ve heard from co-workers in the field how significant it was to obtain the M.S.W. to move into other roles and leadership positions and be more marketable. So, I jumped both feet in, applied, and was selected for the program.

Q- When your co-workers were speaking on the M.S.W. degree if you remember, was there anything specifically said that stood out to make you take that leap into the field?

A- What attracted me to the idea of pursuing a master’s degree in social work was its versatility. It offered me the chance to specialize in a wide range of areas, such as mental health, working with military personnel, counseling those with substance abuse issues, and supporting children and families. I knew from my interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree that I enjoyed the challenge of bringing together different disciplines, which solidified my decision to pursue an M.S.W. Moreover, I understood that if I wanted meaningful and advanced experience in the field, I’d need to get the M.S.W.

Q- Also, in your words how would you describe your role in the wide field of social work currently, and is there any aspect you have not tapped into, that you would like to?

A- I have yet to fully explore all the different paths of social work (luckily, the options are endless), but I am eager to learn and grow in policy and advocacy, leadership, and administrative roles through my CSWE doctoral fellowship experience and U.A. studies. My interest in macro social work has grown exponentially in the past three years. As a social worker today, one can make an incredible impact on society by tackling its most pressing issues. Now is the perfect time for social workers to show their worth.

“If you have a passion for something, do it.“

– Shakima Tozay

Q- What advice would you give to a young aspiring social work student?

A- If you have a passion for something, do it. Try it out and see if it’s a good fit. Don’t hold back, gain as much diverse experiences as a social work student as possible and utilize internships, mentors, and volunteer experiences to your advantage. Always approach new situations with an open mind and as a lifetime learner.