After earning a bachelor’s degree in public relations, Melissa Golebiowski had to switch gears to earn a living in a turbulent economy.
“I’ve had many different careers these past 15 years,” she said. “Regardless of the industry, I always tried to advocate for others or for my employees. I was always the person people would come to.
“That felt right and aligned with who I was, but there was always this wall I would hit when I tried to follow through on it. It was usually related to the workplace culture or environment or people didn’t seem to be prioritized over business.”
While working at Outpost, an aerospace startup company, a friend told Golebiowski that they were returning to college to become a therapist.
“I said, ‘You know what? I think I’ve always wanted to do that. I’m going to look into it and do some research.’ That’s what propelled the decision for me to go back to school, too.”
Golebiowski graduated from Boise State University’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program in May 2026.
She works part-time in operations and development for the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jim McKenzie, and their son, Xavier Golebiowski-McKenzie (7).
“Boise’s program helped me to learn the tools to support people in a way which centers their autonomy as opposed to centering a business’ profit or end goal,” she said. “I just want to protect the people. I had initially thought about a Master’s of Fine Arts because I am also a fiction writer.”
Coast to coast
Golebiowski grew up the child of immigrants from Ecuador and Poland in Red Bank, New Jersey. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising from Penn State University in 2008.
“I started writing in college,” she said. “I had always been a reader, but I never thought about being a fiction writer. I started as a journalism major. With my post-bachelor’s, I was working in New York City.
“I started going to more literary events, making friends within the literary circle and supporting other writers. I was also writing my own stuff. I’ve published some short stories over the years.”
Golebiowski especially enjoyed the perspectives of her fellow online classmates during her time in the MSW Online program.
“The awesome thing about the Boise State online program was I had a cohort from all over the country,” she said. “So, I was able to learn about how social work works in different states, what resources are available and what resources are lacking.
“I am in Los Angeles, so it’s a pretty big city. I am also from the East Coast, near New York City. Those are similar ecosystems. There were folks in the program from more rural areas, so I got insight into some of their dilemmas, like being a therapist in a small town where everybody knows each other.
“How do you make people comfortable with coming to you? How do you maintain confidentiality in a way that feels good to the client? Lack of resources in certain areas. That really gave me a holistic look at how social work is throughout the country, which is super valuable.”
Golebiowski enjoyed the relevant courses in the MSW Online curriculum, including Nonprofit Management.
“That course was really helpful in navigating things like explaining the responsibilities of a nonprofit board and how important it is to stick to your mission when you’re taking the developmental route,” she said. “It was a great and timely class — especially with funding being cut everywhere. It was really helpful for me to talk to my professor about how other nonprofits are navigating it and apply that knowledge.”
Tradition of excellence
Golebiowski is the first person in her immediate family to earn a master’s degree. She walked the graduation stage at commencement.
“It was my first time visiting Boise,” she said. “It was really funny being in a program and not having ever been to the state. It was a good experience. It was cool to go on campus. It’s a beautiful town. Everybody was really proud and supportive of me.
“When I graduated back in the day, my dad was always talking about the financial aspect of college. The cost-effectiveness part of the Boise State program is great. It’s so expensive to get an MSW in Los Angeles.”
Now that she is a Boise State graduate, Golebiowski has some good advice for anyone thinking about enrolling in the MSW Online program.
“Make sure you are able to communicate effectively, remotely,” she said. “That’s really important. If something comes up, the professors are very helpful, but you have to communicate it ahead of time.
“Make sure to join the synchronous sessions that most professors host at the beginning of each course. Then, you can ask the professor all of your questions.”
For Golebiowski, navigating the differences between professors by getting to know them was a key to success.
“Professors are all different and work in different ways,” she said. “Some are stricter than others. Some have different timelines. Some are more flexible than others. Some expect certain citations.
“It’s always good to do that so you can have that time with the professor. And always reach out to them to meet up with them one-on-one. They’re great about that. You are making connections with them, and you get that one-on-one support you need.”
As she prepares for the next phase of her career as a traveling social worker, Golebiowski is thrilled she chose to enroll at Boise State.
“I am in a completely different industry and I feel so much more aligned with the work I am doing,” she said. “I recommend the MSW Online program to everyone — including my supervisors, where I did my internships.”
Learn more about the social work program
Earning a Master of Social Work Online from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.