Marina Badillo

Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz, LCSW, is an experienced school administrator, counseling director, educator, and consultant with a demonstrated history of working in community mental health, education, and social work leadership. Her work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, social work, education, and digital innovation. Dr. Badillo-Diaz is the founder of MABD Consulting and the creator of “The AI Social Worker,” a platform and blog focused on advancing AI literacy, ethical technology integration, and 21st-century skills within the social work profession. Through her consulting, trainings, and educational initiatives, she has trained thousands of educators, social workers, counselors, and human services professionals on the ethical and responsible integration of AI into practice, education, leadership, and organizational systems.

Currently, Dr. Badillo-Diaz serves as a consultant focusing on AI implementation, professional development, and workforce training for educators, social workers, and human services organizations. She is also a board member of the National School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) and has contributed to national conversations regarding technology, ethics, school social work practice, and the future of the profession in the age of AI. Her work emphasizes human-centered AI, digital ethics, equity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparing social workers for the rapidly evolving technological landscape impacting mental health, education, and community practice.
She graduated with her MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2011 with a clinical concentration in working with families, youth, and children. She obtained her DSW from New York University Silver School of Social Work in 2021 with her capstone titled, “Charter School Social Work: Challenges and Opportunities.” She obtained her clinical license from New York State in 2015 and completed a postgraduate certificate in clinical supervision from Smith College. In 2022–2023, she completed a Schools Ambassador Fellowship with the U.S. Department of Education, conducting research and engaging in discussions on the state of education across the United States.

Dr. Badillo-Diaz has been teaching as an adjunct professor since Spring 2020 and has taught at several universities across the United States, including Columbia University, New York University, Hunter College, Louisiana State University, the University of Kentucky, and Walden University. Her teaching areas include Artificial Intelligence and Social Work Practice, Technology and Mental Health, Clinical Social Work Theory, Clinical Supervision and Leadership, Ethics and Supervision, Decolonization of Macro and Mezzo Social Work Practice, Community Partnerships and Grant Writing, Field Advisement, and Technology in School Social Work Practice. Her teaching philosophy focuses on preparing future social workers to ethically navigate the complexities of technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and emerging digital systems within social work practice.

In addition to her teaching and consulting work, Dr. Badillo-Diaz is an active presenter, researcher, and speaker on topics related to AI, ethics, education, mental health, and social work innovation. She has presented at state, national, and international conferences including NASW conferences, CASEL, the National School Social Work Conference, CSWE-related events, and university-based professional development institutes. Her presentations and workshops have included topics such as AI and Social Work Practice, Ethical and Responsible AI Use in Human Services, Generative AI for School Social Workers, AI for Teaching and Learning, Technology and Youth Mental Health, Social Emotional Learning Programming, 21st Century Skills Development, AI and Clinical Documentation, Workforce Development, and Social Work Transformational Leadership

Education

DSW, New York University's Silver School of Social Work

MSW, Columbia University's School of Social Work