Dean's Corner | October Issue: Continuing to do the work
Dear CSSW Community,
Now that we are one month into the new semester, I wanted to reach out and share some updates with you. While the challenges in our world seem only to grow larger by the day, our community is moving forward with their important work. It’s important to acknowledge it.
Curricular innovation is a hallmark of a CSSW education. For example, we have just welcomed the second cohort of the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training Program (PTTP) to CSSW, under the direction of Dr. Heidi Allen. Dr. Allen received significant grant funding to develop curricula to educate social workers and nurses on psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), with the ultimate goal of enabling greater access to this promising therapy for challenging conditions such as PTSD, intractable depression, and end-of-life distress. As a result, CSSW now offers the first-ever PTTP program based in a school of social work. Along with her colleagues, Dr. Allen is working to create a curriculum that will both decrease stigma around PAT and advance its availability to all who might benefit from it, regardless of their financial position. This program aims to increase the workforce of qualified providers who, in the words of Dr. Allen, “are committed to access and equity.”
On another front, the Social Intervention Group (SIG), one of CSSW’s oldest centers for social work research and practice, has launched a new initiative that builds upon their successful community engagement approach: Artificial Intelligence for Social Good and Society (AISG). This timely initiative aims to advance research and training at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and social impact. Faculty from different schools and fields, including data science, computer science, engineering, psychiatry, public health, and medicine, make this a truly interdisciplinary effort that brings together leading scholars committed to applying AI to some of society’s most pressing problems. It is led by Dr. Nabila El-Bassel, University Professor and the Willma and Albert Musher Professor of Social Work, along with Dr. Tian Zheng of the Department of Statistics, with support from Dr. Maneesha Aggarwal of Columbia University Information Technology and a host of distinguished faculty from across Columbia. It’s critically important that social work leads on AI development. While new technologies offer opportunities to improve well-being, social workers are uniquely attuned to the potential risks that they present, such as the perpetuation of bias. The initiative will advance cutting-edge research (such as using AI to reduce the risk of opioid overdose deaths), and new coursework for AI in social work is in development.
Many of you are aware of the outstanding research that our faculty pursue. I’m humbled by the quality of the research that they conduct, as well as the significant amount of external funding that our faculty garner to support their work. In this light, I’m very happy to share that one of our professors, Dr. Alissa Davis, has just received new funding to support her work to improve the well-being of survivors of sex trafficking in New York City. She takes a “citizen science” approach, collaborating with a broad coalition of partners to address serious issues of shared concern. This is but one example of how our faculty approach research through a lens of equity and justice.
Along with these promising developments, I must share some very sad news. I write today to honor the memory of Max Fernandez, a wonderful student who was in his final semester here at CSSW last spring when he suffered a major medical event. After months of valiant struggle, Max passed away at the end of September. In the words of his loving family, “he was driven by a desire to be of service while at the same time squeezing as much fun from life as possible. For him, life was a privilege, a journey to enjoy and honor. Those who were in his presence will never forget his quick wit, his warm heart, his beautiful eyelashes and his joyful smile. In his resilient wisdom, Max offered inspiration. He was the incarnation of resilience and hope.” Max was a beautiful person. His life made this world better, and those who had the privilege of knowing him are better for it as well.
Finally, I know that I have thanked you for your dedication and commitment before, but this gratitude bears repeating. Thank you. In spite of the fear, the pain, and the frustration, you have taken seriously the invitation to co-create a community you want to be a part of here at CSSW. Just recently I was able to meet with students in our online program, to learn more about their experience, listen to their suggestions on how to deepen the feeling of community within our School, and a host of other things. I look forward to doing more of this throughout this year. As we continue to build our community, please also tell your networks outside of CSSW about us. Our priority deadline of December 1st for admissions is fast approaching.
Social work practice and thinking have never been more important than they are now. It may be easier to press on with the work when the world feels more stable. I realize that may not be the case at this moment – yet you persist. You continue to advocate for justice and the dignity and worth of every person, despite the headwinds that we face. Please rest when you can so we can keep moving forward, together.
There is a quote from a poet that has been very much on my mind: “For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.” I had shared this a couple of times last week, and then learned that this was a favorite quote of Max Fernandez. Despite the sadness, I take heart in that. Let’s lift up this quote in Max’s honor as we continue with our work.
In community,
Melissa