#CLASSOF2025CHANGEMAKERS
FORMER DETECTIVE CHRISTINE BONACI
ON THE STRATEGY OF SOCIAL WORK

What’s your hometown?.

Los Angeles, California, until I was 18, then I spent on and off 21 years in Washington, D.C.

What were your undergraduate studies?

I earned my undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and went on to complete a Master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Why did you choose social work?

For over a decade, I served as a detective, specializing in crimes against persons—investigating abuse, human trafficking, and systemic failures that too often silence the most vulnerable. But the deeper I went into the machinery of justice, the more I realized that we were often responding too late—after the soul had been fractured. That realization led me here—to trauma therapy. To social work. To the sacred work of prevention, healing, and witnessing.

Why did you choose Fordham?

I chose Fordham because I knew I wanted to learn in New York City—and there is no greater teacher than the city herself. I also wanted a program that would allow me to stay close to humanitarian work. In my first field placement, I served under the NYC Mayor’s Office at the Emergency Asylum Application Center, where I used my investigative and clinical skills to conduct trauma interviews that supported the persecution claims of asylum seekers. I also chose Fordham because of its strong relationship with NYC Health + Hospitals. I knew I wanted to be at Bellevue—a public hospital serving the most vulnerable—and Fordham made that possible.

What areas of social work are you interested in and why?

I’m passionate about trauma-focused care, particularly at the intersection of mental health, systemic injustice, and crisis response. My work is rooted in the belief that healing is both a personal and collective process—and that no one should be defined by the worst thing that’s ever happened to them. 

Speak a little about your field placements. What were you doing, and what was the most valuable thing you learned?

During my first year, I served as a fellow with Her Migrant Hub, supporting asylum seekers through trauma-informed care and psychosocial support. 

My first field placement was under the NYC Mayor’s Office at the Emergency Asylum Application Center, where I conducted trauma interviews critical to the persecution claims of individuals seeking asylum in the U.S. At the asylum center, I worked with individuals and families who had fled unimaginable violence, helping document their stories for legal asylum claims. It deepened my understanding of trauma across borders—and the sacredness of bearing witness. 

I also knew Fordham had a respected relationship with NYC Health + Hospitals, and I was intentional about wanting to train at Bellevue. It’s one of the oldest public hospitals in the country, and I wanted to serve where the need is greatest. At Bellevue’s Adult Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, I carried my own individual therapy caseload, worked on a multidisciplinary team supporting survivors of complex trauma, and co-facilitated group therapy. The most valuable lesson I learned is that healing happens in relationship—in the presence of someone who listens without needing to fix, who stays with the story, and who sees the person beneath the pain. 

What’s been the most memorable experience from your Fordham M.S.W. education?

Studying abroad in London over the Summer, between my two graduate years of education. Master’s programs can feel different than undergrad – people are in different stages of life and are not confined to dorms. London allowed me to look at social work through an international lens, as well as bond with my cohort in an unforgettable manner. 

What was the best part about studying social work in NYC?

New York is a mosaic of stories, systems, and survival. Studying social work here means you’re never far from real-world context. The city itself is a teacher—one that challenges you, humbles you, and ultimately shapes you into a more grounded, responsive practitioner.

What’s one thing about social work you want everyone to know?

Social work isn’t soft. It’s skilled. It’s strategic. It’s system-aware. And it requires tremendous heart. Social workers are often the bridge between crisis and care—and that bridge takes strength to hold.

Did you have any mentors at Fordham?

Yes. I’ve been fortunate to learn from professors and supervisors who not only modeled clinical excellence but also reminded me to bring my full humanity into the work. Their guidance shaped my growth more than they know.

What are your career plans?

I’m pursuing clinical licensure and plan to work at the intersection of trauma therapy, crisis response, and psychedelic-assisted care. Long-term, I hope to create spaces where clinical practice, embodiment work, and community healing can coexist—and where people feel truly seen. I plan to focus specifically in trauma therapy using Ketamine-Assisted-Psychotherapy (KAP), EDMR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Reiki healing, and other somatic healings like breathwork and sound baths, within community. 

What advice would you give to incoming M.S.W. students?

Don’t rush your becoming. Stay curious. Let yourself evolve. The version of you who enters this program may not be the one who leaves it—and that’s the point. What I thought would be my path changed multiple times, and I am so grateful that I allowed myself to flow with it. 

What’s your definition of a changemaker?

A changemaker is someone who sees the wound and steps toward it. Someone who listens deeply, speaks truth with compassion, and helps others remember that transformation is always possible.