Ellen Doering2019 Rising Alumni
Ellen Doering has a master’s in social work and is currently a Children’s Mental Health Case Manager at the Washburn Center for Children. In her role, she provides mental health assessments, develops service plans, and coordinates care for clients and their families. She says her CEHD program provided a strong knowledge base and clinical background, which allows her to continue learning and growing every day. She still considers her field instructor, Heidi Presslein, as a mentor. Ellen is inspired by her clients as they make progress, as well as her coworkers who keep her motivated. Ellen is a board member for Riverton Community Housing, McVay Youth Partnership, and the CEHD Alumni Society.
Current Job
Children's Mental Health Case Manager, Washburn Center for Children
CEHD Degree
Master in Social Work, 2017
Volunteer activities
I am an executive board member at large of the CEHD Alumni Society Board, a board member of Riverton Community Housing, an admissions ambassador for the School of Social Work and a member of the McVay Advisory Board.
What professor(s) or course(s) were most influential during your time in CEHD?
Heidi Presslein was influential during my time in CEHD. She was one of my professors and my field instructor. Heidi continues to be a mentor in my career beyond the University of Minnesota.
What is your favorite memory from the University of Minnesota?
My favorite memory is connecting with other students in my cohort.
What was the impact and benefit of your educational experience in CEHD?
My educational experience in CEHD gave me a strong base of knowledge to support clients and have a strong clinical background. This experience has given me a jumping-off point to continue learning and growing every day in my practice.
Who has inspired you the most during your career?
There is a long list of people who have and continue to inspire me. My co-workers at Washburn push me to think about cases in fresh ways and help keep motivated to do the work we do. My clients also inspire me to continue being a strong advocate as I see their progress and struggles. There have been countless other role models and mentors who have believed in me and pushed me to believe in myself that inspire me as well.
What skills are important to succeed as an emerging professional today?
It is important to keep learning and growing every day. Given how quickly the world is changing, it is important to stay active and engaged in continuing to learn new things and push ourselves to overcome the next challenge.
When you have 30 minutes of free time, what do you do?
When I have 30 minutes of free time, I choose to cook or bake something I haven't made before.
How do others describe you?
Others describe me as organized, strong advocate, a team player, silly, helpful, intrinsically motivated, strong clinical skills, driven and thoughtful.
How do you describe yourself?
I describe myself as organized, passionate, and diligent.
What's a good book you'd recommend to others?
Whole Brain Child, Daniel Siegel
If you could have coffee with anyone from history, who would it be?
I would choose to have coffee with Jane Addams. She is known as the mother of social work.
What gets you excited about work?
Seeing clients’ progress and growth in clients gets me excited to keep doing the work I do.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What I wanted to be growing up changed over time, the two main things were being an architect and being a teacher.
Outside of your job, how do you grow professionally?
Outside of work, I grow professionally by staying engaged politically and advocating for social justice.
What is a "fun fact" about you?
When I go to a new city, I like to check out the grocery stores and see what local or interesting ingredients I can find.