"Even though I'm only in my practicum setting, and I'm only contributing a small amount to the kind of help that the people here in Shanghai Mental Health Center are receiving, I see people leave the hospital and get better," shared Carson Ramsdell, former Weber Shandwick account director, now a graduate student in the NYU Shanghai and NYU Silver’s joint MSW program.
Ramsdell’s journey from public relations to social work was driven by a desire for tangible impact and a long-standing interest in mental health. Reflecting on his time in PR, he recognized that while his work was meaningful, its effects were often indirect and difficult to see in day-to-day operations. "With PR, you know what you're doing every day. You're not necessarily seeing the direct results of that work," he explained. The structured nature of public relations, where success is measured through metrics and audience engagement rather than immediate human impact, left him searching for something more.
Now immersed in a practicum at the Shanghai Mental Health Center, Ramsdell experiences firsthand the difference he can make. This visibility of change is something he finds deeply fulfilling. While in PR, where communication is strategic and often impersonal, social work allows him to engage with people on a more personal level. "I like interacting with people. I like talking to people. I'm curious about people," he said, reflecting on the shift.
Ramsdell’s academic path has also been anything but conventional. Having previously studied Chinese philosophy at Renmin University, now pursuing a master’s in social work, he developed a unique perspective in understanding the field of social work and navigating his study.
Ramsdell integrates his knowledge of Chinese philosophy into social work by bridging Western frameworks with traditional Chinese concepts, for instance, ren (仁), often translated as "benevolence" or "love." In social work, relationships are foundational, and Ramsdell sees parallels in ren, which he describes as “talking about the relationship between people,” making it deeply relevant to client-social worker dynamics. While traditionally hierarchical, he argued that “there’s no reason why we can’t reinterpret things to apply to our modern lives.” By advocating for the integration of non-Western philosophies, Ramsdell challenges the field to be more inclusive, stressing that “we have a responsibility to examine local concepts with the same level of import as Western theories”.
Ramsdell describes his NYU Shanghai experience so far as one that has offered an intriguing blend of Chinese and American cultures. "I imagined it to be more of a purely American-style institution, but in reality, it’s a fusion of both educational traditions. Sometimes, I had to rely on my experience with Chinese philosophy, and other times, I drew from my understanding of American institutional structures. The combination of both made for a unique and enriching experience."
Beyond cultural richness, Ramsdell found that his coursework in the program provided him with valuable tools for understanding systemic interactions. "The micro, mezzo, and macro perspectives we study in courses have helped me better conceptualize how these systems operate and why they function the way they do. Learning about systems theory has given me a new lens to analyze and navigate different institutional frameworks."
Ramsdell’s goal for the future is to work both at the micro level as a therapist, providing direct interventions, and at broader mezzo and macro levels to advocate for systemic change. “I’m concerned with the way serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, are misrepresented in the media, often depicted as dangerous or violent when, in reality, such cases are rare,” he opined. Ramsdell hopes to contribute to changing this narrative through education and advocacy, fostering greater public understanding and compassion for those living with chronic mental health conditions.