Faculty Profile for Dr. Lea Robin Velez

profile photo for Dr. Lea Robin Velez
Dr. Lea Robin Velez
Professor of Instruction — School of Social Work
ENC 150A
phone: (512) 245-2592
Scholarly/Creative Work
Awards
Grants
Service

Biography Section

Biography and Education

 Ms. Lea R. Velez, LMSW, M.S., has served as a Lecturer at the Texas State School of Social Work since 2014. She has over 20 years of diverse practice experience, working with individuals experiencing homelessness, youth, and initiatives to promote wellness for all individuals. Ms. Velez, who is currently a doctoral student and is interested in wellness initiatives to improve quality of life for elders, homelessness, families of the incarcerated, and social work education.

Teaching Interests

 Macro social work; program development; distance courses; service learning

Research Interests

 Intergenerational programming on quality of life for elders and youth; families of death row inmates; physical activity as intervention for individuals in recovery

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Velez, L. R. (2016). Enhancing the Educational Experience of Technology Based Tools: Excellence in the Classroom.
  • Velez, L. R. (2013). In O. Renick & L. Velez (Eds.), Racing into the Storm: Roberta Gibb, Katherine Switzer, and Women’s Marathoning. Jackson, Mississippi: The University Press of Mississippi.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor, Alpha Chi Honor Society. October 10, 2024 - October 25, 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Most Outstanding Adjunct Professor, The University of Texas at Arlington. 2013
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Young Professionals Honoree, Dallas Furniture Bank. 2013
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Featured in the issue “Dallas People 2012”, Dallas Observer. 2012
  • Award / Honor Nominee: The Texas Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award, The University of Texas at Arlington. 2009

Selected Grants

  • Hawkins, Catherine A (Principal), Morley, Rael Hypatia (Co-Principal), Selber, Shirley K (Co-Principal), Velez, Lea Robin. Systems thinking as the nexus of social justice: Addressing the vital link between the dynamic and related systems of social welfare and criminal justice, Common Experience at Texas State University, Institutional (Higher Ed), $1000. (Submitted: July 2022, Funded: October 2022). Grant.
  • Selber, Katherine (Co-Principal), Velez, Lea Robin (Co-Principal). Social Work and Criminal Justice Collaboration Guest Speaker Fund, Graduate School. Veterans Advisory Council, Texas State University, $1500. (Submitted: September 2020). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Member
Artificial Intelligence School of Social Work Policy Development Sub-Committee
2024-Present
Member
Advisory Board Member/Service-Learning Excellence
2024-Present
Board Member
Healing Touch
2024-Present
Volunteer
Comal County Senior Center
2024-Present
Board Member
Empowering Women as Leaders - Austin Chapter
December 2024-Present