Assistant Professor
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
Dra. Mónica Gutiérrez is a community advocate based in the Southwest; she began her journey into storytelling through her family's migration stories from rural Mexico. This sparked a lifelong commitment to preserving community and culture. Her work explores the intersection of urban development, social justice, and testimonios (personal narratives), applying critical race theory to highlight institutional and structural inequities behind gentrification and displacement. She co-collaborates with communities to advocate for policies that protect historically under resourced neighborhoods and communities to preserve inclusive, sustainable communities.
Her work is deeply rooted in her intersecting identities as a Mexicana, raised near the Mexicali-Imperial Valley border, and her experiences growing up in California's Central Coast region. As a first-generation college graduate, she is committed to mentoring other first-generation students. She holds a B.A. in Chicano Studies with a minor in Industrial Design from San Francisco State University, along with an MSW and a Ph.D. in Social Work from Arizona State University. With over a decade of post-social work experience in child welfare, veterans' health, criminal justice, and health promotion, her practical expertise is well-established.
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