Joan Sahley
Director of Social Services, Montefiore, Beachwood, Ohio

MSSA, Class of 1987

Program: Extended Degree Program

Concentration: Direct Service

Specialization: Aging

How can you make a difference in people’s lives? How can you make changes in an organization or community? Social work is what I was meant to do. I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s such a natural fit for me – it’s a professional extension of what I’ve been doing personally my whole life.

Undergraduate Institution: Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, B.A., Russian Studies, 1982

Work experience: Social service agencies Other relevant experience: I provided care for my grandmother who had Alzheimer’s disease.

Life at MSASS

Activities at MSASS: Student government officer

Part-time employment: Margaret Wagner House; Judson Park

Favorite thing about Cleveland: There are many cultural things to do – the orchestra, the theatre, the parks and great restaurants. Pretty areas are very close to the city.

Favorite thing about campus: There are several museums within walking distance of MSASS.

Field Placements

Breckenridge Village, Willoughby, Ohio; Mt. Sinai Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio

Employment/Career

Current employment: Director of Social Services at Montefiore, which provides nursing home, hospice and home care and other services for Cleveland’s aging community

How it connects to social work : I provide direct service with my own case load and provide clinical and administrative supervision.

Future plans: I’d like to do more writing and publication. I would also like to travel more.