Since stepping into her role in April 2024, Erin Cantrell has brought a fresh vision to the DiNitto Career Center — one rooted in purpose, adaptability and connection.
As director of the DiNitto Career Center and Alumni Relations at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, Cantrell is leading a transformation that redefines career support not as a destination, but as a lifelong journey.
Building on a Legacy
She’s building on a strong foundation laid by Jennifer Luna, who established the DiNitto Career Center in November 1995 as the first career center in the country dedicated specifically to social work students. That focus remains distinctive: while most universities offer generalized career services, UT Social Work provides licensure study materials, tailored career coaching and — notably — career support for alumni indefinitely, a level of service rare even at UT Austin.
“I approach things from a strengthsbased and holistic perspective,” says Cantrell, a certified Clifton Strengths coach and life design practitioner. “Everyone is coming in at different stages in their life, from different backgrounds and entry points to social work. It’s about where are you and where would you like to be?”
Guided by this emergent career and life design model, the DiNitto Center now offers programming that reflects the evolving needs of students and alumni.
From the Career Exploration Series and Policy Connect networking events to Clifton Strengths workshops, the Center is building reciprocal relationships across the UT Social Work community — connecting students, faculty, staff and alumni in meaningful ways.
Cantrell’s approach draws inspiration from frameworks like “Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life” and “Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds.”
She encourages students to identify what “lights them up” in their work and to embrace exploration at any life stage. “My hope is that I encourage students to seek out the opportunities in any situation in their job search, versus searching for work from a fear-based mindset,” she says.
Looking at the Data
Under her leadership, the Center has expanded its partnerships across campus — from the LBJ School to the University Writing Center — and deepened its data collection efforts to better understand post-graduation outcomes. That data collection is already yielding insights. Average starting salaries for 2024 graduates reached $52,500 for BSW students and $61,871 for MSSW students. The Center tracks not just where graduates land, but how quickly: half of 2024 BSW graduates secured positions within their first month, while MSSW graduates found roles across a slightly longer timeline, with 26% employed within one month and 59% within two months.
Recent employment data from 20212024 graduates shows the breadth of sectors where social workers are making an impact: mental health, higher education, medical social work, military and veteran services, child welfare and criminal and juvenile justice lead the field. The Center is also tracking emerging trends, including rising interest in private practice and group practice, increased pursuit of LCSW licensure and expansion into corporate sectors like employee assistance programs, human resources and philanthropy.
Growing the Network
Perhaps most significantly, Cantrell has launched the School’s first Alumni Association Board — a ninemember “think tank” for alumni relations. Meeting twice yearly, the board brings together alumni across degree programs, practice concentrations and locations nationwide. “The image that comes to mind is the mycelium network that connects roots of trees in a forest,” Cantrell says. “We’re branching out to a larger network of social workers.”
As UT Social Work prepares for 2026, the DiNitto Career Center is inviting faculty, staff and alumni to become Career Services Champions — whether by guest teaching, recommending speakers or co-creating new career readiness resources. It’s a call to action rooted in the belief that every career path is unique, and every member of the community has a role to play in shaping it.
Cantrell models this philosophy herself. Her participation in Social Work’s Got Talent — where she performs as a singer — reflects her commitment to embracing multifaceted identities. “I am also an artist. I am also a performer,” she says. “Hopefully that encourages others to embrace that we are all multifaceted. Social work is part of our students’ and alumni’s identities, but hopefully emboldening others to embrace the ‘I am a social worker AND…’ mentality.“