For Valett Bunns-Langford, attending USC was almost preordained — when she was younger, her father always told her she would become a Trojan. Now, that prophecy has been fulfilled: She just graduated from the online Master of Social Work (MSW) program from USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
During her time at USC, Bunns-Langford not only earned her graduate degree, but she was also nominated by her professors for the Order of Arête award by exemplifying “USC’s Unifying Values of integrity and open communication through her leadership, advocacy and dedication to community service.”
But how did it all come together? For Bunns-Langford, it started after she received her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and began working in education, an experience that ultimately changed her career path.
“I was in the classroom with children of all grade levels … [and] their mental health was not being prioritized. I was trying to support them in that way, but I was always told, ‘Stay in your educator realm.’ When I saw the lack of support for the children, especially from underrepresented communities, I thought, ‘How can I be better suited to help them?’” she told USC Online. “I could help more by moving to social work.”
Bunns-Langford knew she would need a master’s degree to become a social worker, as she hadn’t studied social work during her undergraduate years, and an MSW is required for most advanced positions. When she began researching graduate programs, USC immediately became a top choice.
“It has always been a dream school of mine, and when I was younger, my dad would always tell me, ‘You’re going to end up at USC. It’s the kind of student you are.’ So when I applied and got in, he was right,” she recalled.
For Bunns-Langford, the program proved invaluable. While her background in education offered some preparation for social work, there was still much to learn. The MSW program equipped her with essential hard skills — from policy and advocacy to communicating difficult topics with young children — but some of the most meaningful lessons were less tangible.
“The program allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the impact social workers have in addressing social injustices and advocating for marginalized communities,” she explained. “I also learned a lot about empathy and grace … You never know what others are going through.”
Outside of her coursework, Bunns-Langford also became involved with several different student organizations. She was the co-chair for Unchained Scholars, which advocates for formerly incarcerated students; the fundraising chair and treasurer for Phi Alpha at USC, a national honor society for social work students; and the president of the Black Social Work Caucus, where she led service projects including a toy drive, food bank volunteering and care package distribution for veterans.
With her unwavering commitment, drive and passion for serving her community, it’s no surprise Bunns-Langford was nominated for the Order of Arête, which recognizes students for academic excellence, leadership and meaningful community impact.
Remarkably, she achieved all this while raising four children, completing an internship and caring for a sick parent. When asked if it was difficult to manage everything, she responded with candor: “I’ve always been good with time management!”
Still, she’s quick to credit her professors for their support throughout the journey.
“The professors were amazing. They were always honest, open and very caring. If there was anything wrong, they were very understanding, which I appreciated,” she said.
She also shared her appreciation for the Trojan community as a whole, noting, “I loved that everybody comes from different walks of life, different backgrounds. Everyone was always trying to help each other, too.”
Though Bunns-Langford is sad to say goodbye to her time at USC, she’s focused on celebrating her achievements first. (“I’ll be celebrating my graduation until the end of the month,” she joked.) After that, she’s ready to officially begin her new path as a social worker.
She’s currently waiting to obtain her Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC), which will allow her to work as a school social worker. From there, she plans to apply for her Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) number and start her job search.
“I plan to work for a while, get licensed (LCSW) and eventually go back to school — hopefully to USC — to earn my PhD. I would like to do that in a year or two because I would love to be a professor … I can’t sit still!” she said.
When asked what advice she’d give to anyone considering the online MSW program at USC, Bunns-Langford was encouraging: if social work is your calling, you owe it to yourself to pursue it — and USC is the right place to start.
“If you’re passionate about social work and feel you can make a change within the community, go for it. What do you have to lose?” she said.
Learn more about the Master of Social Work (MSW) online program today.