Biography
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, the “Enchanted Island” of the Caribbean, I am originally from Humacao, a city on the eastern side of the island. One of the parts of my story that makes me especially proud is having completed my entire formal education, from elementary school through my doctoral degree, within Puerto Rico’s public education system.
My academic journey began at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1998, followed by a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Families with Children and Adolescents from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras in 2000. After graduate school, my professional career began in mental health, working as a clinical social worker in psychiatric and behavioral health settings. That experience eventually led to serving as director of a community mental health center, with a primary focus on children and adolescents with severe emotional disorders and their families.
In 2005, my professional path expanded into psychology and higher education when I entered the Social-Community Psychology doctoral program at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, earning my Ph.D. in 2011. My academic career also began during those doctoral years, first as an adjunct faculty member and later as an Assistant Professor of Social Work. Over time, opportunities to contribute beyond the classroom led to several academic leadership roles, including Director of Field Education, Graduate Program Director, and involvement in the development of a university office dedicated to community engagement.
A growing interest in higher education leadership led me to pursue additional leadership development opportunities, including the New Leadership Academy Fellowship at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor in 2017 and the Executive Leadership Academy Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021. These experiences further strengthened my interest in academic leadership, institutional service, and shared governance.
In 2017, another major transition brought me to Texas, where I joined Texas Woman’s University. During nine years at TWU, I served as a social work faculty member, BSW Program Director, and Faculty Senate Speaker while contributing to curriculum development, accreditation, research, and shared governance.
In Fall 2026, the next chapter of my academic journey brought me to Texas State University as an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work.
From Puerto Rico’s public education system to clinical social work practice, higher education, and academic leadership, each stage of my professional journey has shaped how I approach teaching, scholarship, service, and engagement with communities. Those experiences continue to inform the educator, social worker, and scholar trained in social-community psychology I am today, and I am proud to bring these perspectives and experiences to Texas State University as part of the Bobcat community.
My academic journey began at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1998, followed by a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Families with Children and Adolescents from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras in 2000. After graduate school, my professional career began in mental health, working as a clinical social worker in psychiatric and behavioral health settings. That experience eventually led to serving as director of a community mental health center, with a primary focus on children and adolescents with severe emotional disorders and their families.
In 2005, my professional path expanded into psychology and higher education when I entered the Social-Community Psychology doctoral program at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, earning my Ph.D. in 2011. My academic career also began during those doctoral years, first as an adjunct faculty member and later as an Assistant Professor of Social Work. Over time, opportunities to contribute beyond the classroom led to several academic leadership roles, including Director of Field Education, Graduate Program Director, and involvement in the development of a university office dedicated to community engagement.
A growing interest in higher education leadership led me to pursue additional leadership development opportunities, including the New Leadership Academy Fellowship at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor in 2017 and the Executive Leadership Academy Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021. These experiences further strengthened my interest in academic leadership, institutional service, and shared governance.
In 2017, another major transition brought me to Texas, where I joined Texas Woman’s University. During nine years at TWU, I served as a social work faculty member, BSW Program Director, and Faculty Senate Speaker while contributing to curriculum development, accreditation, research, and shared governance.
In Fall 2026, the next chapter of my academic journey brought me to Texas State University as an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work.
From Puerto Rico’s public education system to clinical social work practice, higher education, and academic leadership, each stage of my professional journey has shaped how I approach teaching, scholarship, service, and engagement with communities. Those experiences continue to inform the educator, social worker, and scholar trained in social-community psychology I am today, and I am proud to bring these perspectives and experiences to Texas State University as part of the Bobcat community.
Research Interests
My scholarship and professional interests center on mental health, child and family well-being, culturally responsive practice, and the preparation of helping professionals to effectively serve Hispanic and Latino communities. My work is interdisciplinary, bridging social work, psychology, and education, with an emphasis on applied research, program evaluation, and community-engaged practice.
Teaching Interests
Social Work Micro Practice
Mental Health
Clinical Social Work
Mental Health
Clinical Social Work