Guiding Change

While snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean, Clement Wilson locked eyes on a shimmering pink and green form hovering above a coral reef. It was a parrotfish — a known shape shifter, able to transition sex depending on the needs of its environment. It would be the perfect metaphor to bring back to discuss with their students.

Before coming to PSU, Wilson worked for several years in Hawaii as a wilderness therapy guide and mentor, connecting young people with nature, community, stories and symbols to shape their sense of self. Much of the focus of Wilson’s work in this program centered around helping kids navigate transitions of all kinds – but mostly the change from child to adult.

Now a graduate student in the PSU School of Social Work, Wilson has firsthand knowledge of many different kinds of life transitions. They immigrated to the United States from England, changed careers, moved across the country (twice), came out as a member of the queer community and also as trans/non-binary. Most recently, Wilson made another big change: going back to school at age 37 to pursue a Master of Social Work.

Wilson worked as a mentor for youth before deciding to pursue social work as a career. Photo: Youth Passageways

Wilson plans to eventually pursue a Ph.D. and work in public school policy advancing social emotional learning for students and educators by infusing it into teacher trainings, classrooms, curricula and also in top-level policy.

One year into their graduate program, Wilson has already started making a difference. As part of their first-year internship, they helped to create and launch a new curriculum on social and emotional learning at a Portland middle school. The lessons aim to encourage students and teachers alike to reflect on who they are, how they feel and who they are becoming.

Wilson also designs and facilitates workshops for social workers and educators on gender identity and how to effectively support transgender students. Much of this work asks participants to take a close look at their own gender identity.

“To be an effective and active trans ally, you really need to consider where you are coming from in the work,” they said. “Many cis adults, for example, may not have ever really asked themselves when they knew they were their gender. I want to encourage folks to do this self-reflective work so that they can be more effective support system for others.”

This opportunity to make a difference in the community made Portland State University an attractive choice for Wilson. PSU’s social work program allowed Wilson to take classes and begin a hands-on internship with a local school district — starting on day one.

“I want my education to be embedded in the community, and the community to be at the center of my learning,” they said. “That's why PSU is the perfect place to grow my practice.”

"My scholarship has been a huge motivator. It makes me feel seen."

In addition to Wilson’s coursework and internship, they also work on campus as a peer mentor for undergraduate students within the university studies program. Serving as a mentor for PSU students has cemented their passion for nurturing young people on their journeys — at whatever their stage. It’s also been a way for Wilson to give back to the community as a way of showing gratitude for all the help they’ve received along the way.

Some of that help took the form of scholarships. Wilson was awarded two competitive PSU scholarships totaling $7,500 to help cover the costs of pursuing a graduate degree. The support has been life-changing, they said, but not just for financial reasons.

“My scholarship has been a huge motivator. It makes me feel seen,” Wilson said. “I see the people who chose to invest in me as stakeholders in my work. Now it’s up to me to deliver.”