Dr. Dawn
Thurman
PhD, LCSW-C, LICSW
Educator, clinical social worker, researcher, and entrepreneur. Advancing social work through ethical AI.
Ready. Set. Grow! · Note Genie · Discerna
Educator, clinical social worker, researcher, and entrepreneur. Advancing social work through ethical AI.
Across every role, her focus stays the same: helping social workers use technology ethically, efficiently, and in service of the clients and communities they serve.
Dr. Dawn Thurman is an Associate Professor and Transfer Coordinator in the BSW Department at Morgan State University's School of Social Work. She is also the CEO and Clinical Director of Ready. Set. Grow!, a psychotherapy and acupuncture group practice, and the founder of two technology ventures built for the social work profession: Note Genie and Discerna.
She served as Principal Investigator on two CEAMLS AI research projects and is Principal Investigator on the SHIELD Fellowship, a SAMHSA SOR-IV funded initiative training social work students in substance use disorder prevention and intervention.
She earned her PhD and MSW at Howard University and holds a Master of Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She is a member of the AWS Machine Learning University Educators Consortium and holds the AWS AI Practitioner Foundational Training badge, deepening the technical foundation behind her AI product work.
Dr. Thurman's scholarship examines how artificial intelligence intersects with social work practice and education, alongside her work in behavioral health workforce development.
Ethical AI Integration in Social Work Practice and Education. Examining responsible, privacy-conscious adoption of AI tools in clinical and academic settings.
Behavioral Health Workforce Development. Preparing students and practitioners for evolving practice demands, including substance use disorder prevention and intervention through SHIELD.
Technology Innovation in Social Work Education. Developing curriculum and tools, including Discerna, that build AI literacy across BSW and MSW programs.
With M. Littlefield, G. Gibson, R. Porter, and R. Wells-Wilbon. An exploratory study of awareness, applications, and ethical considerations of AI in social work education.
With M. Littlefield, G. Gibson, R. Porter, and R. Wells-Wilbon. Examines the ethical considerations raised by AI adoption in social work practice.
SAMHSA State Opioid Response funded program training social work students in substance use disorder prevention and intervention. Dr. Thurman has managed more than $2.4 million in SAMHSA funding across SOR III, ARPA, and SOR IV. She serves as Principal Investigator on SHIELD and Co-Principal Investigator on ARPA.
Press: Morgan State News →Thurman, D., Littlefield, M., Gibson, G., Porter, R., & Wells-Wilbon, R. (2026). Artificial intelligence in social work education: An exploratory study of awareness, applications, and ethical considerations. Manuscript in preparation.
Thurman, D., Littlefield, M., Gibson, G., Porter, R., & Wells-Wilbon, R. (2026). Ethical considerations for artificial intelligence in social work practice. Manuscript in preparation.
Thurman, D., Porter, R., Gibson, G., Townsend, L., & Wells-Wilbon, R. (2026). Cyberbullying and artificial intelligence: A review of detection technologies and their relevance to social work. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Green, K., Dickens, D., Thurman, D., & Van Sluytman, L. G. (2024). The disproportionate use of corporal punishment on African American children in US schools. Journal of African American Studies.
Burley, J. T., Thurman, D., & Brade Stennis, K. (2022). Mothering and othering: Experiences of African American professional women. Journal of Motherhood Initiative, 13(1), 161–176.
Rose, T., Hope, M. O., Thurman, D., Forrester, P., & Rose, R. (2020). Nonorganizational religious involvement and psychosocial well-being among African American and Caribbean Black youth. Journal of Black Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798420937856
Burley, J., & Thurman, D. (2019). Faith, family, and friendship: Experiences of African American women living in the margins. Social Work & Christianity, 46(1), 8–19.
Estreet, A., Thurman, D., Goodman, S., Tirmazi, M., Carter, T., & Nebbitt, V. (2018). Examining the role of parental factors on depression among urban African American youth living in public housing. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2018.1430647
Thurman, D. (2018). Psychosocial correlates of depressive symptoms among preadolescent African American youth. Urban Social Work, 2(1), 48–65.
Dr. Thurman teaches and develops curriculum for BSW students at Morgan State University and chairs doctoral dissertations and capstones.
Dr. Thurman advises organizations and institutions on ethical AI adoption in behavioral health and social work education.
Guidance on evaluating and implementing AI tools while protecting client privacy and clinical integrity.
Support for social work programs building AI literacy into coursework and field education.
Support for behavioral health training programs, from concept through funded implementation.
Practical, hands-on AI training for practitioners, teams, and social work programs. Offerings range from one-on-one consultations and small group workshops to AI for practice and business, ongoing advisory support, and guest lectures and curriculum integration for students and educators.
Dr. Thurman speaks on AI ethics, behavioral health workforce development, and technology in social work education and practice.
NAIRR Community Engagement Workshop, New York University, New York, NY.
With R. Wilbon, L. Townsend, R. Porter, and G. Gibson. National Association of Black Social Workers Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
National Association of Black Social Workers, DC Chapter.
Social Work and AI Workshops, DSW Immersion Project, Morgan State University School of Social Work.
Morgan State University, School of Social Work Field Supervisor Orientation.
With R. Wells-Wilbon. Morgan State University, School of Social Work Retreat.
Three organizations, one mission: advancing social work through ethical, practical technology.
A psychotherapy and acupuncture group practice based in Bowie, Maryland. Dr. Thurman serves as CEO and Clinical Director.
rsgtherapy.com →An AI-powered clinical documentation tool built to help social workers and helping professionals write progress notes more efficiently. Founder and CEO.
notegenie.ai →An AI-powered EdTech platform for social work and psychology education, featuring Cases, Media, Reads, and Lens. Piloted at Morgan State University. Founder and CEO.
discerna.app →Reflections on AI, social work education, and behavioral health practice.
The first time I used an AI tool to help with a progress note, I felt two things simultaneously: relief and unease. This piece walks through what the NASW Code of Ethics actually requires, what to look for before adopting any AI documentation tool, and the practice I recommend for using AI responsibly in clinical work.
Read the full article on LinkedIn →For speaking, consulting, media, or academic inquiries, reach out using the form or connect directly.
Morgan State University
School of Social Work, BSW Department
Baltimore, MD
Ready. Set. Grow!
Bowie, Maryland