Emily Kerestedjian, MSW
Emily Kerestedjian, MSW is a dedicated social work professional currently serving as a Case Manager at Loretto Nottingham in Syracuse, New York. She specializes in mindfulness-based care, geriatric support, and case management, focusing on providing person-centered services that uphold the dignity and worth of every individual. Emily’s approach emphasizes understanding the unique backgrounds, values, and life experiences of those she serves, ensuring respectful and compassionate support across all aspects of care.
Emily earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Keuka College, graduating Cum Laude in 2022 and completing her MSW in 2024. Early in her career, she has contributed to several community initiatives, including developing resume workshops for veterans and facilitating creative engagement programs for seniors. Through these projects, she has demonstrated her commitment to empowering vulnerable populations and building supportive networks within the social work community.
Passionate about lifelong learning and professional growth, Emily actively engages with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and has published articles on mental health topics. She attributes her success to her strong family support, mentorship, and the value of persistence in navigating the challenges of the social work field. Emily’s professional philosophy centers on fostering meaningful connections, promoting mental wellness, and advocating for the well-being of individuals across all stages of life.
• Licensed Social Worker (LMSW in process)
• CPR Certified
• AED Certified
• Licensed Scuba Diver
• Keuka College – Master of Social Work (MSW), Clinical/Medical Social Work
• Keuka College – Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
• Influential Women 2026
• Cum Laude, Keuka College
• Dean’s List, Keuka College
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• Warriors Working Resume Workshop – Clear Path for Veterans (Resume development and veteran support)
• Caring Crafts for Seniors – Hearth at Greenpoint (Senior community engagement project)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents. When I said I wanted to be a social worker, they were like, okay, great, let's do that. What school do you want to go to? How are you going to do this? Are you going to go online or in person? What are the steps to take to do this? How do you become successful in this field? My parents didn't even really know what a social worker was, they didn't grasp the difference between a social worker or a therapist. But their morals and their values really played a part, and they were encouraging and supportive. I had a really great support system underneath me in order to get to where I am today.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I was given was that even if you have the degree and the licensing, that doesn't mean you're gonna be 100% successful your first week of work. When I first started here, I struggled so hard, and I could not understand why, because I had the degree, I had the license, I had everything that qualified me to have this job, but I struggled with the actual tasks of the job. So for people who may have gone to school and got the license and everything, did their job and got their job, you're gonna fail your first week, and that shouldn't deter you. Through failure, success is born.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would probably be just don't give up. You're gonna keep learning. It's not gonna come to you right away, but don't give up on it. It's okay if a job doesn't work out for you. I'm not saying stick with the job that you hate. Just try it. At least give it like 6 months, because it takes about 3 or 4 months to acclimate into a job anyway. Social work is all about team building and enforcing and building those connections, so focus on creating that safety net of other social workers who can help you with different things along the way.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Since I've graduated and changed up my profiles to establish that I'm a social worker, I've been invited to different talks and recommended to different sessions that other social workers put on. I've created a safety net of other social workers in the Loretto community that have helped me with different things along the way. Social work is about team building and enforcing and building those connections, and that's really starting for me now, so I'm really excited about seeing where all that goes. The opportunities are really about networking and building those professional relationships that support you throughout your career.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I definitely think dignity, definitely from quoting from the NASW, definitely dignity and worth of a person is my most valuable value to me. Here I work with probably 65 and up, and out and about in the community I work with people from age probably 16, the bagger at the grocery store, to 57, talking to my dad, and everywhere in between. It's learning and understanding how other people perceive things. It's about understanding where they come from and what morals mean the most to them. Every individual deserves respect, and it's how you give that respect to that person and how you're going to get it back. When you're talking about that elderly community, it's how they lived their life, how they were reared, how they lived their life. Those are all huge factors that help determine who you're dealing with now.