BIODr. Mónica Gutiérrez (pronouns she/her/ella) serves as an Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. Dr. Gutiérrez works at the intersection of social work and policy, employing social work tools to investigate a wide range of macro issues, primarily those directly relating to Latinas/os and neighborhood inequality.
Her research is motivated by her intersecting identities as a Mexicana raised near the Mexicali-Imperial Valley border and years spent growing up in California's Central Coast Region. As a first-generation college graduate, she is dedicated to mentoring other first-generation Latina/o students. Her interest in community-based methodologies stems from a decade of post-social work experience, which has informed her practical expertise in child welfare, veterans' health, criminal justice, and health promotion. Dr. Gutiérrez has gained recognition for her scholarship, mentorship, and leadership including:
She has a B.A. in Chicano Studies and a minor in Industrial Design from San Francisco State University, as well as an MSW and a Ph.D. in Social Work from Arizona State University. |
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ACTIVISM
Social Work Praxis
Critical Race Scholars in Social Work (pronunciation of CRSSW: CRIS-DUB) is a space for social workers to actively engage in the praxis of Critical Race Theory. The CRSSW collective was formed to provide a space for social work faculty, students, and practitioners to engage in the praxis of Critical Race Theory.
Leadership: Steering Committee Member
Co-Author: Resolution: In Defense of Critical Race Theory in Social Work Blog Author: An Interview with Critical Race Scholars in Social Work (CRSSW) Founding Members. |
Community Co-Collaborations
Proyecto Movimiento Valverde es una colaboración de la Asociación de Vecinos de Valverde, el gobierno municipal y regional, investigadores universitarios y organizaciones sin fines de lucro que están unidos en una búsqueda para expandir la salud y la riqueza de la comunidad en Valverde a través de inversiones en transporte y seguridad en las calles.
Co-collaborator: Planning Committee
Lead PI: Mapeando Mi Comunidad/Mapping My Community Mentor: Doctoral and Masters level capstone mentor for students engaged in the Valverde Movement Project |
Research
We need to re-evaluate the power dynamics that prevent communities from claiming substantial power in order to restore a more equitable distribution of power in the decision-making process.” Recently, Dr. Gutiérrez was awarded a Semillas Grant through the Center for Immigration Policy & Research at the University of Denver for her pilot project Mapeando Mi Comunidad/Mapping My Community.
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Publications
We must include policy recommendations in our publications if we want our work to have an effect. This is especially true if we conduct our work alongside communities that are not represented in local politics. Researchers should clearly describe the policy in question, including action steps and agencies required for success, and constantly keep communities’ needs at the center of the policy paradigm.” |
Gutiérrez, M. (2022). “Me siento seguro aquí. No quiero irme.” Examining the impact of gentrification and displacement on the well-being of the Latina/o community (Dissertation) ProQuest 2672312591.
Gutiérrez, M., & Lechuga-Peña, S. (2022). Latina/o/x Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) in social work praxis: A tool to dismantle racism and build racial equity. Advances in Social Work. 22(2), 605-627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18060/24996 Gutiérrez, M., Brooks-Hawkins, J., Hassan, K., & Wolfersteig, W. (2022). Relationship of health rating and stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS: A community study. Humanities and Social Science Communications Journal, 9 (98). DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01086-8 Mitchell, F., Lechuga-Peña, S., Poola, C., & Gutiérrez, M. (2021). Incorporating photovoice into a community-based intervention: Practice implications from Your Family, Your Neighborhood. Advances in Social Work. 21(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.18060/24385 Cassinat, R. A., Bruening, M., Crespo, N. C., Gutiérrez, M., Chavez, A., Ray, F., & Vega-Lopez, S. (2020). Effects of a community-based pilot intervention on home food availability among U.S. households. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 327. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228327 Aguilar-Amaya, M., & Gutiérrez, M. (2019). Implementing compassion fatigue prevention for lay employees conducting naloxone training: An example from rural Arizona. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. 19(3), 314–321. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.2019.1640018 Zhu, W., Gutiérrez, M., Toledo, M. J., Mullane, S., Stella, A. P., Diemar, R., Buman, K. F., & Buman, M. P. (2018). Long-term effects of sit-stand workstations on workplace sitting: A natural experiment. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21(8), 811-816. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.12.005 Buman, M. P., Epstein, D. R., Gutiérrez, M., et al. (2016). BeWell24: development and process evaluation of a smartphone "app" to improve sleep, sedentary, and active behaviors in US Veterans with increased metabolic risk. Translational behavioral medicine, 6(3), 438–448. DOI: 10.1007/s13142-015-0359-3 Creative and Scholarly Works and ContributionsGutiérrez, M., Martinez, R.A., Staley, B. (March 6, 2021). Introducing the student presenters at the 2021 RacismLab symposium: Brittney Butler & Alana Keller. Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science Blog, http://ow.ly/KXNo50G55Pv.
Gutiérrez, M., Martinez, R.A., Staley, B. (March 13, 2021). Introducing the next generation of racism scholars, part 2: Rebekah Israel Cross. Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science Blog, http://ow.ly/lRkP50G55NJ. Gutiérrez, M. (May 23, 2020). In spite of the darkness, COVID-19 has propelled social work into the 21st century. The New Social Worker, Op-Ed, http://ow.ly/XJd150G55VO. |
Media
Experience: Scholar Perspectives
#HPRSCOREOFMYSTORY
#HPRSCOREOFMYSTORY
Cronkite News Interview
Rent hikes, Downtown Boom Spur Gentrification of Older Tucson Neighborhoods. |
Op-Ed
In Spite of the Darkness, COVID-19 Has Propelled Social Work Into the 21st Century |
Podcast
IAPHS Sick Individuals Sick Populations, Season 1 Episode 4: Challenging Place and Power |
Online Presentation
Toxic Equilibrium: Structural Racism & Population Health InequitiesVirtual Symposium |