Kimberly Hula (’17)

A passion for people and social justice behind Hula's decision to pursue career change

Off-Campus Program student Kimberly Hula (‘17) found her calling in social work while serving as a financial officer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Innovation Initiative. Three years later, she graduated from the BU North-Bedford campus.

Hula wasn’t expecting to switch tracks while working full-time at MIT. Outside of the workplace, Hula, an Arlington, Massachusetts resident, began to discover issues she was truly passionate about.

“I was at a conference when I noticed that people really loved their jobs,” she said. “What I really wanted to do was the work I did outside the office; I wanted to be more engaged, and participate more in those volunteer activities. I wanted to put aside the finances and really work with people.”

When looking for a program that would meet her needs and goals, Hula was drawn to the flexibility and options that BU School of Social Work offered. She decided on the Off-Campus Program, although she’s also taken courses on the Charles River Campus and online. “While I was firmly committed to pursuing a clinical track, I was really invested in macro issues, especially in social justice,” said Hula, who was influenced by her time working on the Betsy Markey for Congress campaign. “That was the first time I was able to recognize and realize the power of policy.”

Her foundation field placement was at the Italian Home for Children, where she did in-home therapy work in partnership with a clinician. “It was a new experience because I was transitioning from a job that was quite different, and was thrown into in-home therapy, which was a whole other ballgame,” she said.

Working with families felt like a privilege for Hula, especially since she was able to go into their homes and really understand family systems and operations, which is the area she is most interested in.

She moved on to the Children’s Room in Arlington, MA, a peer support group for children, teens, and family who have lost a significant family member. “I think bereavement work is really important, and I’m proud that I did it, because it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a job that someone needs to do, and I felt that I possessed the ability to do it,” Hula said.

Hula’s found incredible support in her Off-Campus cohort. The intimate group, which included students from different age groups, was able to really grow together.

In addition to her fieldwork and full-time job, Hula became the BU National Association of Social Work student representative for 2016. She used her BU activism to create a community event, “Let’s Progress, MA” that assembled community leaders from across the state of Massachusetts to meet and discuss ways to identify problems, develop leadership, and organize action at a local level.