#CLASSOF2026CHANGEMAKERS
Changing Careers at 70,
with Phillip Petrosky

Philip Petrosky spent decades as a teacher and later as a Chief Operating Officer in the financial sector, developing systems for derivatives and processing. After a successful climb up the corporate ladder, however, Petrosky realized he wanted to recenter his career toward making a meaningful impact on the people around him, not just the financial sector. 

Drawn to the one-on-one depth of clinical social work, Petrosky arrived at Fordham’s Westchester campus in his late-60s ready to learn the skills to help make a difference for those who are struggling. This May, he celebrates completing his Master of Social Work (MSW) degree with a Specialized Practice Certificate (SPC) in Crisis and Resilience over two and a half years at Fordham GSS. 

We sat down with Petrosky to speak about his MSW experience, later-career transitions, and how Fordham assured him that it’s never too late to do what calls you.

What’s your hometown?

I live in Danbury, Connecticut, and I hail from Long Island.

What were your undergraduate studies?

I went to Marist College back in the ’70s. My undergraduate degree was in English with teacher certification for grades 7 through 12, and I also had an equivalent in music.

Why did you want to be a social worker?

After 30 years of working with systems—everything from banking to derivatives to processing—it was time to get back into a more social setting. I thought about becoming a teacher again, but I thought, let’s try something new. 

The Fordham admissions office was really instrumental [in my decision to pursue social work]. I called them, and they spent a lot of time with me. They asked me about who I was, what I was looking for, what some of my talents and skills were, and they started to match them up with social work. They had ideas about what I would do with it. They were really motivational. 

What specialty areas and populations do you want to work with in your career?

Had I done this when I was younger, I would have been heading to the UN to work with NGOs. That would have been my go-to, and that’s fascinating work. But the change in that area takes so long; I’ll be in a nursing home long before anything happens. I like being around people, so clinical is the best option.

I had the chance to be a case manager during my generalist year, and I really came to understand how people struggle to function in their environments and how it takes a combination of therapy and case management [to help them]. Because no matter how much you bring somebody to new housing and stable housing, they don’t stay if they don’t have the mental health capability to do it. To go with them on that journey and to help them make decisions was hugely rewarding.

Can you walk us through your field placements?

I completed my field placements at Catholic Charities of Fairfield County. I was in their case management and clinical sections. So I had a chance to clinically work with the clients with whom I had started my placement meeting in their homes, taking them to doctors’ appointments, and understanding what their families were like. 

It was a real soup-to-nuts exposure to working with families and individuals as a social worker. You needed to be an advocate. You needed to learn about Social Security and the Department of Social Services. You needed to learn how food stamps work—how those resources are helpful and also pose barriers—and the difficulties people face in accessing and retaining those benefits.

The individual who runs the program was an excellent supervisor. He would let me take on tasks he wasn’t exactly sure would be over my head, and he stayed close to me. If I needed help, he was there, but he also allowed me to really explore just how creative, resourceful, and connected I could be. It was a really wonderful experience. 

What was the best part of your MSW experience at Fordham?

In one of my very first classes, a classmate sitting next to me knitted. During the final for that class, I realized why a social worker does, what they do, and why they’re so important. 

We had another classmate who was struggling with some personal issues. During the final, that person walked into the room and had a strong emotional response. My classmate saw this and reached into their bag, grabbed this pink hat she had knitted, and said, “Put this on your head; it’ll make you feel better.” She went over, helped our classmate put it on, and that person sat down and took the test. That’s a social worker. It was knowing how, knowing when, knowing who—all at the same time. And having empathy.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to an MSW student starting this fall?

They need to congratulate themselves. They’re moving into a career that requires them to be open, self-reflective, and to align their values with what they do.

What is your definition of a changemaker?

A changemaker is a collaborater between what needs to be changed and yourself. A changemaker is where both happen, for the benefit of both. Change is a collaboration.