Neela Mukherjee Lockel, GSS ’04, began her Master of Social Work (MSW) journey at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) in 2001, just after New York City was shaken by the events of September 11th. Starting her coursework in the aftermath of such a historic tragedy, Lockel found herself immersed in deep conversations about trauma, resilience, and the role of social work in responding to crises.
“It was really hard to hear people talking about what had happened,” Lockel said. “I felt naive and uninformed, but I was listening and learning from everyone.”
Today, as the CEO of EAC Network, a nonprofit that serves over 65,000 people across Long Island and New York City through over 100 programs, she continues to embody the values of social work that first drew her to the field.
“The thread of our work [at EAC]is helping people navigate complex systems,” she said. “We are helping people every single day.”
An Undergraduate Change of Heart
Undergraduate education is a time for exploration—and as a college student in Maine, Lockel had her eyes set on law school. It wasn’t until she worked at a youth shelter that she realized her true passion lay elsewhere. She finally found the profession she’d call home for the rest of her career.
“I didn’t know social work existed as a field,” she said. “But once I started working with young people, I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I meant. I didn’t mean law school. I meant social work.’”
Lockel knew a master’s degree in social work would help her career. She knew it was the logical next step on the path to leadership. What she didn’t know, however, was how transformative the education would be.
“I picked Fordham specifically because everything I had read and heard made me feel like this was where I wanted to be,” she said. “I went in thinking I was just checking a box. I had already been working in social work. But the program gave me such a reality check. I didn’t know how much I didn’t know until I was in the program.”
Lessons in Leadership
After graduating with her MSW in 2004, Lockel’s career journey actually started at EAC while she pursued her Master of Public Administration degree at NYU Wagner School of Public Service. Back then, she was in charge of one EAC program (now she oversees 114).
Since then, her dynamic career has spanned frontline clinical work, nonprofit administration, and large-scale crisis response. Lockel worked in administration at Adelphi University; as a board member at Girls, Inc.; and as the CEO of the American Red Cross on Long Island.
“The Red Cross really invested in me,” Lockel said. “I deployed a bunch of times; I had the opportunity to see so many things. That experience has been so valuable as I’ve grown in my career.”
In the back of her mind, however, Lockel said she knew she’d be back at EAC. Call it manifesting.
“When I left EAC 20 years ago,” she said, “I said, ‘One day, I’m going to come back as the CEO.’”
Lockel said Fordham’s MSW program gave her the systems-focused perspective that has shaped her leadership style as she’s headed multiple large organizations.
“Social work is about understanding how individuals function within communities and larger systems,” she said. “That systems view made so much sense to me, and it’s been the foundation of my work ever since.”
A Legacy of Impact
Reflecting on her journey, Lockel emphasized that adaptability has been key to her success.
“I always had a three-, five-, and ten-year plan,” she said. “But life taught me to be adaptable. You have to be resilient, especially in this field.”
This is especially pertinent now, when every passing day brings a new threat to the way nonprofits operate. While it can be frightening to read the news in anticipation of another blow to the sector, Lockel tries to view it as an exciting opportunity for social workers to show their strength and lead with courage.
“It’s stressful, but it’s exciting. We are going to test our limits,” she said. “The need for this type of work is even greater now. We’re going to be saving our kids, schools, and communities—and making sure that people’s voices are heard and people’s needs are being met.”
This year, Social Work Month’s theme is “Compassion and Action.” Social workers, in fact, turn their compassion into action every single day and make a true difference in their communities. Lockel represents a workforce comprised of zealous advocates determined to empower others in the face of adversity.
“I love this work,” she said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Ready to make your mark in social work? Our fall 2025 MSW cohort is accepting applications until April 1. If you’re called by this work, please consider it. Your community needs you. Learn more here.
