Marisa Gonzalez

Marisa Gonzalez is a social work faculty member in the MSW Global Program. Her teaching centers on social justice, cultural humility, and the integration of real-world practice, preparing students for ethical and community-responsive professional work.

Prior to joining NMSU, Marisa served as the Practicum Coordinator and Child Welfare Title IV-E Grant Coordinator for the Bachelor of Social Work program at Colorado State University Pueblo. There, she developed international field placements in Mexico and New Zealand and created an annual international social work and diversity course in Baja California, Mexico. She also brings professional and educational experience from The Netherlands, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Nepal.

Additionally, her background includes direct practice as a Family Case Manager in a homeless shelter, a Refugee Resettlement Case Manager supporting New American families, and a College Social Worker developing campus-based support services. These experiences continue to inform her teaching and emphasize culturally responsive, strengths-based practice.

Marisa is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Social Work at Colorado State University (Fort Collins), focusing on equitable international partnerships and transformative field education models. In 2026, she will serve as a Fulbright Scholar in Vietnam, partnering with Dalat University’s Social Work Department to strengthen reciprocal international collaboration and host-informed program evaluation in the context of digital transformation.