By Vincent Lim
David Rochman was a teacher at William Jefferson Clinton Middle School near the University Park Campus when he first enrolled in graduate classes at USC three years ago to study education. He valued the rewarding opportunity to help impact the lives of children as an educator, but he thought he could do more outside the classroom.
Three master’s degrees later, Rochman is pursuing his doctorate in social work—with the same goal of reforming the educational system. But now he plans to do it with a career in research. And social work. A move he owes in part to a field placement with the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging.
Originally inspired by the USC School of Social Work’s Community Organization, Planning and Administration concentration, Rochman thought brushing up on his advocacy, community organizing and leadership skills would complement his master’s degree in teaching, helping him bring about change in education policy.
“In my first year of taking MSW [Master of Social Work] courses—getting more into the literature and understanding what social work was about—I realized I wanted to do research,” said Rochman, who ultimately earned advanced degrees in teaching, social work and public administration.