As part of the Graduate School of Social Service’s “Class of 2025 Changemakers” series, we’re spotlighting graduating students transforming their professional paths through the Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
What’s your hometown?
I live in Brooklyn, New York, but I was born in Santiago, Chile.
What were your undergraduate studies?
I was a History major at Clark University in Massachusetts, but then I went to Law School right here at Fordham Law School.
Why did you choose social work?
Social service is something that has always been part of my life; it was a core family value. Also, I traveled a lot growing up and attended Jesuit schools wherever my family ended up. The Jesuit notion of living a life in the service of others has been instilled in me from a young age. As I approach the Autumn of my professional career, I want to immerse myself more meaningfully in social service and some of the causes I care about. Getting a graduate degree in Social Work is the obvious choice to prepare me for a professional career in the service of others.
Why did you choose Fordham?
I’m a Jesuit at heart (and mind). I considered the other top graduate programs in New York City, but none of them spoke to me like Fordham did.
What areas of social work are you interested in and why?
I have a strong interest in working with marginalized members of our community –“the others”. The inherent injustice of members of our community being marginalized is something that I’ve always wanted to understand and ameliorate. I’ve been involved with homeless and immigrant services for many years and those are two, often intersecting, communities with which I would like to continue working. To me there is an appeal in being able to assist people in restoring their dignity by connecting them with opportunities for employment, health and overall self-sufficiency.
I don’t have a strong interest in clinical or therapeutic practice, although I understand and appreciate the value of that work. I also think the training and skills I received in that regard as part of my social work education will serve me well. My interests are more directed towards social policy, advocacy and program development.
Speak a little about your field placements. What were you doing, and what was the most valuable thing you learned?
My generalist year’s field placement was with James Lenox House, an elder care facility. It was not a sector that I was particularly interested in at the time, but I chose the placement because it had a very flexible schedule, which was important to me for a variety of reasons. To my surprise, it was a great learning experience. I connected with the residents and received invaluable training in clinical analysis and case management. It helped that I had a very knowledgeable and experienced field instructor, who was engaged and interested in my development.
My specialist year’s field placement was with Catholic Charities and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a division within the Federal Government’s Department of Health and Human Services. I worked with unaccompanied minors placed with sponsors in New York City. I sought out this field placement because of my interest in working with the immigrant community. The placement was hugely rewarding, in terms of feeling like I was making a positive difference in someone’s life. Here too, I had the good fortune of having wonderful field instructors (I had three). They were knowledgeable and experienced, but also deeply committed to helping others. I learned quite a bit from them. Unfortunately, towards the end of the semester, the program was closed because Catholic Charities lost its federal funding. I was able to complete the requisite hours towards my field placement credit, but it was a bittersweet experience overall because it was capped with the closure of the program, which provided an important service to so many immigrants in our community.
What’s been the most memorable experience from your Fordham MSW education?
I most enjoyed the time I spent studying in London last summer. The courses were in subjects in which I was very interested, and the professors were among the best the school has to offer. The ability to focus intensively on two very interesting subjects for two and a half weeks, without the distraction or stresses of one’s daily routine at home, was invaluable. I don’t think I’ll ever have that opportunity again. Also, all the participants in the London program, both professors and students, developed a strong bond and became close over that experience. It was great!
What was the best part about studying social work in NYC?
Probably the diversity of the students. Not just among the categories we traditionally consider when talking about diversity, but diversity of thought and lived experience. I had classmates who were officers in the armed forces, journalists, accountants, politicians, chefs, teachers, dentists, etc. Each brought with them a different perspective and lived experience that enriched the academic debate. I don’t think you will find that level of diversity outside of a school that’s located in the heart of New York City. The tag line, “Fordham is my school, but New York is my campus” is catchy and clever, but there’s real substance and meaning to it.
What’s one thing about social work you want everyone to know?
When I first decided to get a graduate degree in social work, I viewed it as a necessary step that would bridge me from my legal career to a new practice in an area that I feel strongly about. Never did I consider how much I would enjoy the journey. I had no appreciation for the diversity of topics and disciplines involved in obtaining an MSW degree. I’ve had to study a little bit of economics, philosophy, statistics, history, psychology, sociology -just to name a few.
Also, the profession attracts a certain type of person -empathetic, appreciative of social justice, community-focused, committed to making a difference and achieving social change, resilient- these are just some of the positive characteristics of the people I’ve met and become friends with while studying to become a social worker.
What are your career plans?
I don’t have definitive plans yet. Although, as I previously mentioned, I have an interest in working in homeless and/or immigrant services. I am a practicing lawyer, and I am struggling with whether I want to be a legally informed social worker or a social work-informed lawyer. A lot is going to depend on the opportunities that present themselves and where I feel I can make the most impact.
What advice would you give to incoming MSW students?
I believe it’s important to have an open mind and take advantage of everything that is offered to you. As I mentioned, I am not interested in pursuing clinical work, yet I took more clinical classes than anything else because the courses were interesting and equipped me with useful insight and skills that I believe will serve me well.
What’s your definition of a changemaker?
In my opinion, a changemaker is someone who thinks critically and challenges convention. Someone who takes action to address and solve social problems. It requires going beyond simply doing good works, but someone who pursues transformative change within their community.
