Sergio Serna

Director of Practicum MSW

Programs and Courses Taught

HBSE 601

About Me

Sergio Serna is the inaugural practicum director of the Master in Social Work program at Samuel Merritt University. He is a licensed clinical social worker committed to supporting students in their development as professionals and social workers as they enter a demanding and rewarding field. Mr. Serna worked as a field consultant for UC Berkeley, his alma mater, and UCLA in their Social Welfare Master's program. As a field consultant he helped train first and second-year students placed in a variety of social work settings in preparation for careers in health, mental health and child welfare. As a therapist he specialized in children and families suffering from complex trauma due to exposure to domestic violence, sexual abuse and community violence, and worked with adult domestic violence survivors in order to increase their ability to provide support and create a safe environment for their own children. As an award recipient of the Title IV-E program in California, after receiving his master’s degree at USC, he worked in the public child welfare system in both Orange and San Diego Counties to fulfill his commitment to addressing the needs of children exposed to abuse and neglect.

Education

I am a graduate of University of Southern California's School of Social Work program with an focus on children and families and a specialization in public child welfare. I also graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in Anthropology.

Teaching Interests

I have had the good fortune to be able to work with and teach students as a field education faculty at UCLA and UC Berkeley. I taught practice courses and field seminar to students to help them find the nexus between field and the classroom.

Scholarly Interests

Within the study of social work I am interested public child welfare, juvenile/criminal justice and technology.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

NASW California

Community Service

My family and I are committed to working in our surrounding community to support those with food insecurity through the Albany/Berkeley Food Bank. We volunteer our time and collect money to donate towards helping to fight food insecurity.