Meet the team 👋

Lauri Goldkind, Ph.D. is a Professor at the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University, where she teaches in both the master’s and doctoral programs. Her work focuses on the intersection of social work, digital technologies, and nonprofit practice, with an emphasis on how artificial intelligence tools and data can be used responsibly in service to community flourishing.

She has published more than 80 articles and an edited book of case studies. Goldkind’s research explores topics such as digital equity, artificial intelligence in human services, and the role of technology in nonprofit management. She has written widely on these issues in academic journals and professional publications, and she has co-edited volumes that help practitioners and organizations think critically about the opportunities and challenges new technologies present.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Goldkind partners with nonprofits, public agencies, and technology developers to support thoughtful and ethical adoption of technology in human services. She is especially interested in how organizations can balance innovation with core social work values such as equity, transparency, and respect for the communities they serve.

At Fordham, Dr. Goldkind is committed to preparing students to engage with technology as part of their professional practice. She encourages them to consider both the practical and ethical dimensions of using digital tools in social work and community settings.

Through her teaching, research, and community partnerships, Dr. Goldkind works to create conversations that bridge the fields of social work, nonprofit leadership, and technology. Her goal is to support approaches that are not only effective but also aligned with the mission of advancing social justice and human well-being.

Johanna Creswell Báez is an Assistant Professor and Director of the MSW Program in the Department of Social
Work at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She completed her Master of Science in Social Work at Columbia
University in 2006 and worked at several non-profits as a director of
clinical and research programming and as a private practice clinician
before completing her Ph.D. in clinical social work at Smith College in 2016. She also served as Manager of Course Development at Columbia University School of Social Work from 2018
through 2021. Dr. Báez's research focuses on trauma, children and
families, immigration, and technology. She has a particular interest in artificial intelligence (AI), trauma-informed practice,
and qualitative and mixed methods research. She has published 30 Essential Skills for the Qualitative Researcher (2nd ed.) with John W. Creswell (SAGE, 2021) and Issues of Equity: Key Concepts in Qualitative Methods (Routledge, 2025).

She is an Associate Editor forQualitative Health Research and editor of its special issue on AI and qualitative inquiry. Most recently, she has been exploring technology use within social work as a Network Lead and Grand Challenges Futures Fellow to "Harness Technology for Social Good."

Dr. Matthews is an assistant professor at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. She received her PhD from Rutgers University School of Social Work. Prior to her academic career, Dr. atthews worked as a clinical social worker in an integrated community health and mental health center. Drawing from these experiences, her present research focuses on improving the
adoption of patient-centered practices in health and mental health services, particularly the use of technology to support the of delivery patient-centered care. Her work has been supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Center for Data Science, and the National
Association of Social Workers.