Michelle McNeil Turns Personal Perseverance into Purpose Through Social Work

When Michelle McNeil began pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at UNC Pembroke, she knew she wanted to help people through some of the hardest moments of their lives.

What she did not know then was how much that calling would be tested by her own.

McNeil, who earned her MSW in May, serves as a social services director in a long-term care facility, where she has built her career around showing up for residents and families during deeply personal transitions. She helps coordinate care, supports discharge planning, provides emotional support and walks families through difficult decisions, including end-of-life care.

For her, social work has never been about checking a box or completing a task. It has been about making sure people feel seen, heard and respected.

“I've always had a heart for helping people, especially during some of the most difficult moments in their lives,” McNeil said. “I've seen what it means when someone shows up for you when you need it most, and I wanted to be that person for others.”

That purpose grew stronger during her time in UNCP's MSW program. What began as a desire to support individuals became a deeper understanding of advocacy, systems change and the role social workers play in creating safer environments for vulnerable populations.

Her capstone project focused on active shooter preparedness using the Run, Hide, Fight framework. At first, it was an academic project rooted in safety and preparation. Over time, it became something much more personal.

“There were moments in this program where I had to run, times I had to step back and regroup, and times I had to fight to keep going,” she said. “That perspective has shaped not only how I practice, but how I live.”

Last year, McNeil had to pause the program because of health challenges. Returning was not easy. In her final semester, as she worked to complete her degree, she was also grieving the loss of her sister, father and brother.

Still, she kept going.

“There were times I had to step back and take care of myself. There were times I had to process and grieve. And there were times I had to fight through the pain, the exhaustion and the doubt,” she said. “What kept me going was my purpose. I knew I wasn't just doing this for a degree. I was doing this because I was called to this work.”

Dr. Summer Woodside, chair of the Department of Social Work, said McNeil's journey reflects both determination and purpose.

“Even when faced with serious health challenges that required her to pause her education, she never lost sight of her calling to serve others,” Woodside said. “To see her return, complete her MSW and be named School Social Worker of the Year is truly remarkable. We couldn't be prouder of the impact she is already making.”

Being nominated was meaningful on its own, she said. Learning there were more than 600 nominations made the recognition even more humbling.

“It felt like confirmation that the work I'm doing matters,” she said. “It made me reflect on the long days, the emotional conversations and the difficult moments. It reminded me that even when it feels like no one sees it, the impact is there.”

The award did not change why she does the work. It strengthened her resolve to continue advocating for people who may not always have a voice.

Woodside said McNeil's work also speaks to a larger need across the profession.
“At a time when the need for behavioral health services in schools has never been greater, her work is a powerful example of how dedicated social workers are essential to supporting families and entire communities,” Woodside said.

In long-term care, McNeil said the most meaningful impact often happens in small moments: listening when someone needs to talk, offering reassurance during uncertainty or helping a family understand what comes next.

Beyond her current role, she hopes to expand her work to support young adults who have aged out of foster care. Her goal is to provide life skills and transitional support to help them move forward with confidence.

For McNeil, earning her MSW represents more than the end of a degree program. It represents resilience, perseverance and faith.

“It's a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, you can still move forward,” she said.

Her message to other students facing personal challenges while trying to complete their degrees is simple: Give yourself grace, but do not give up.

“Your path may not look like anyone else's, and that's OK,” she said. “What matters is that you stay connected to your purpose and keep moving forward, even if it's one step at a time.”

And if her journey has taught her anything, it is this: Strength is not the absence of struggle.

It is continuing in spite of it.