FROM THE OFFICE
OF THE DEAN

Dear GSS Community,

As summer moves into full swing and I reflect on another terrific year at the Graduate School of Social Service, I can’t help but feel optimistic that the future of the social work profession is in very good hands. 

This spring, GSS graduated over 600 Master of Social Work students who will enter the workforce at a critical time. It is always my great privilege to watch each of our graduates cross the stage and have an opportunity to shake their hands and personally thank them. It is an experience that always leaves me grateful and inspired by their fortitude and unwavering dedication to our profession.

While all GSS students come through our doors with unique gifts and motivations, I hold a soft spot in my heart for those who choose social work as a second career. These students bring skills and experience they have gained, often over many years, committed to another career. They have experienced firsthand the many pressing issues in our world that need to be addressed. They come from finance, law, tech, and many other industries. What connects them is a desire for more: more meaning, more opportunities to have an impact, and more chances to be true to what’s most important to them. 

Along with our usual highlights about faculty and advances in research, memorable graduation moments, and event coverage, in this issue, we pay special attention to our impressive social work career changers. These are students who felt the strongest form of calling and, fueled by a strong desire to contribute to meaningful change in the world, were willing to uproot their lives and careers in order to dedicate themselves to a new, unknown path. I am always astounded by their sheer courage and determination. 

Our tribute to our career changers reminds us that it is never too late to reinvent ourselves and become what we want to see in the world. Fordham GSS students and graduates are blessed with an outstanding and engaged community of alumni who stand ready to provide guidance and support through both career and life transitions. Our school is eternally grateful to all of you who serve as role models and mentors—whether that be up close or from afar. 

All the best,

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