FROM THE OFFICE
OF THE DEAN

Dear GSS Community,

The future comes at us faster every day. These past few years, change seems to be moving at hyperspeed. While some of us are still fully adapting to a digital world, we find ourselves immersed in an era of artificial intelligence. 

Every sector is grappling with what AI will mean for them and what is required to adapt. Higher education is no exception. Here at Fordham, discussions are ongoing. Within the GSS community, we’re having discussions almost daily about the implications of integrating AI into social work education and practice. In a profession focused on relationships, connection, and empathy, it can be difficult to discern where technology—which can seem impersonal—fits in. 

The hope in social work (and most professions, for that matter) is that AI will alleviate some of the more tedious parts of the job, creating more space for connection and a focus on what truly matters. If social workers are able to complete administrative tasks in half the time, more resources can be directed toward clients—bringing more positive change into the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Everyone wins. 

What we’ve learned so far is that it’s not this simple. At least, not yet. 

Programs like ChatGPT, while revolutionary, are still evolving and rife with issues. One of the biggest concerns with generative AI is bias. This can come from the biases of those writing the code that runs the program and/or the underlying data that powers it. The downstream effect can have a negative impact on vulnerable populations. If we’re not careful, what starts as a way to benefit clients can develop into another means of oppression. 

Our profession values inclusion, which serves as a prime mitigator of bias. Social workers have the knowledge, values, and skills to understand the relationship between technology and vulnerable populations, both good and bad. We bring an essential perspective to the table and can collaborate with those in Silicon Valley to ensure technologies are equitable for all. But to be that voice at the table, we must first commit to educating ourselves and adapting. 

These complete issues are further explored in a new Fordham GSS Faculty Spotlight video focused on the work of GSS Professor Lauri Goldkind, Ph.D., who has researched the intersection of technology and social services for more than a decade. I am thrilled to have faculty members like Professor Goldkind leading the charge as we enter this new age. Fordham has always been committed to innovation while staying grounded in our Jesuit tradition. These are not conflicting commitments but rather an essential combination of curiosity and caring that establishes our school at the forefront of social work and technology. 

I hope you will find inspiration in this latest issue of our magazine as we share some of our recent successes here at GSS and among our community members. As we head into the holidays, we know that significant changes and challenges may await us in the New Year. It can be tempting to want to throw our hands up in frustration or, worse, surrender to despair or apathy. But social work doesn’t have this luxury, and for that, I am grateful. 

We are a profession made up of changemakers, problem solvers, and forward thinkers. We have never sat on our hands and hope the world heads in a better direction. All of us entered into this profession to contribute to positive and meaningful change. I am privileged to see this passion reflected every day in the faces of our students. It fuels my desire to stay engaged and contribute to something bigger. I hope you feel the same way when you finish reading. 

All the best,

Debra M. McPhee, Ph.D.
Dean
Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service