FACULTY - Maryann Syers
Associate Professor, Field Education Co-Coordinator
“I conceive of learning as a collaborative endeavor. Both
parties, the teacher and the student, are involved in the learning
process and each have their own responsibilities.” Syers firmly
believes in a focus on the integration of theory in practice. “I
teach in the area of clinical practice.” This is where she
feels students learn to integrate what is learned in the classroom
with real-world situations. “There must be the connection
between knowledge and action.
“Augsburg is made up of faculty committed to student learning.
We help students to engage in the learning process and to use and
apply what they learn in an experiential way.” Syers views
the social work program at Augsburg as a rigorous one, where the
student “can’t come and get lost and pass their way
through,” however the faculty are devoted to helping the students
succeed by providing lots of contact time, mentorship relationships
and incorporating different methods into their teaching to accommodate
a wide variety of learning styles.
Syers also maintains a small clinical practice outside of work and
is a board member on the MN Society for Clinical Social Work as
a co-chair for the education committee.
