“Our professors don’t just teach us the material, but make us delve into ourselves,” said Jungreis. “Part of the learning process is learning about ourselves and this is what ultimately enables us to be better therapists and social workers.”

The 24-year-old West Orange native, who is in her second-year of social work school, earned a spot as a fellow at the Weiner Center for Learning and Leadership, a program of the UJA-Federation of New York. As part of the fellowship, Jungreis spends a year interning for two UJA-associated organizations and commits to working for a UJA-associated organization for two years after she graduates. In addition, the program offers a series of lectures on mental health topics like aging, Alzheimer’s and dementia, and dealing with trauma. For the first part of her UJA-affiliated internship, Jungreis is working with severely mentally disabled individuals in the Bronx PROS Center.

The UJA fellowship is the second fellowship that Jungreis received during her studies at GSSW. In her first year, she was a fellow at the Touro College Graduate School of Social Work New York State Consortium Project for Evidence- Based Practice in Mental Health, a fellowship sponsored by the New York State Department of Mental Health.

Jungreis said she had always been interested in a career in social work. “I really feel motivated working with people and helping them,” she said. “It gives me the inspiration to get up each morning.”

She also links her success in GSSW to her earlier experiences as a student in Lander College for Women—The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School (LCW).

“I wasn’t always a motivated student,” explained Jungreis. “But that changed when I got to LCW. I loved the small classes and the warm environment. The professors were so dedicated to our education. Touro helped me succeed.”

Her success continued in GSSW.

“The teachers work with us, they’re patient and they make me feel inspired,” said Jungreis. “They just want to help us.”

Along with Jungreis, two other GSSW students are recipients of the competitive fellowship. Jungreis lives in Washington Heights with her husband and plans to specialize in Dialectical Behavior Therapy after she graduates.