Put people first. Alexis Tuggle ’18 was made to help people. That’s why, every day, the social work major gives her all to others.

Alexis is always one of the first people to raise her hand. To sign up. To say, “I’ll do it!” Whether it’s to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. Counsel kids at The Boys and Girls Club. Mentor girls with Mission Evolve, Inc. Work with homeless veterans through Stand Down. Serve with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Or clean up the campus and the community. She’s there, rolling up her sleeves for Savannah.

The way she sees it, volunteering is about more than logging hours. It’s about awakening a whole new worldview right here in Savannah. “Some people think of service as helping others around the world. But there are people right down the street who need help, too.”

So when the opportunity to work one-on-one with a professional social worker at a Thunderbolt nursing home came up, Alexis jumped at it. She engaged with residents who didn’t get a lot of visitors – playing bingo, creating artwork, and breaking down personal barriers. “I’d never worked with older populations before. But now it’s my main focus. I love working with the elderly.”

And while Alexis is making moves in Savannah, SSU social work students are also traveling across the Atlantic to places like Liberia, Ghana, and Trinidad and Tobago. That’s where they get to explore social issues, reach out and serve communities, and even brainstorm ideas to start social work programs at universities in Liberia.

As for Alexis: Her service won’t stop here. She wants to continue improving the lives of others by earning a master’s degree in public administration and opening up a group home for girls who need mentorship. Because that’s what it means to be a person for the people. Seriously Impressive