Cameron Galloway
Graduate Student
Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
Cameron Galloway’s journey toward a social work master’s degree has been a succession of hard work. From growing up in foster care through his undergraduate college experience, Galloway focused on building an environment for himself to thrive while also aiming to better the lives of other children from similar backgrounds.
The Paducah, Kentucky, native found a home in Louisville after earning an undergraduate degree in social work with a minor in criminal justice from Kentucky State University. Through the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science HBCU Cardinal Express to Success program, a partnership that encourages students from historically black colleges and universities to attend UofL in order to increase the number of advanced social work practitioners of color, the graduate student found the opportunity to expand his leadership and his education.
Galloway embodies the Cardinal Spirit not only by his passion for learning but also by being closely involved with the community. Growing up as a foster kid, he constantly embraced challenges, teaching himself how to build a network and tools for a flourishing future. Through his experiences, he learned how critical it is to have a support system and to build relationships. He also found his calling in advocacy, evidenced by his efforts as an undergraduate at Kentucky State to pass state legislation providing rights for children in foster care – House Bill 158.
“Together we create an impact, we create a sense of community, a family,” he said.
He discovered his own sense of community at UofL.
“UofL has given me the tools to think, to be challenged and to learn how to fully encompass the community,” he said. “From social justice class to evidence practice class we learn how to navigate that.”
Throughout his journey as a Cardinal, Galloway has crossed the paths of a lot of leaders. His mentor, social work professor Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, has helped him take what he learns in class into the community. During a project for her class, he connected with a couple of major youth serving organizations in Louisville to get their outlook on barriers youth face to participate in programming and civic engagement. Through his research, he discovered that youth felt they were lacking awareness of opportunities available to them in the community.
Galloway wants to change that. He is dedicated to making sure children know what resources can help them. Along with his class projects, he works for Youth Engagement Services in the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods for Metro Louisville. There, he helps coordinate and facilitate a networking session called “YES! Connection” that hosts more than 50+ youth serving organizations that come together to gain awareness of what services and programs are being offered here in the city.
“We are conducting these in order to foster collaboration,” he said.
In addition, Galloway is involved with Kentucky Youth Advocates and is the head track coach for W.E.B. Dubois Academy. His leadership extends into military service as he is a 2nd LT Medical Officer in the 2/138 Field Artillery Battalion for the Kentucky National Guard.
After graduation, Galloway aspires to open his own center of excellence to empower youth and push them to advocate for themselves. He wants to offer GED services, career preparation, professional development, housing and other skills trainings and workshops to better the youth community He hopes his own story will serve as motivation, particularly for foster children or those who are looking for a positive black male influence.
“No one knows they can reach something if they don’t even know someone that has done it around them,” he said.”