Institution: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Denise A. Longoria, Ph. D., LCSW, is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
John M. Gonzalez, Ph. D., LMSW, is an Associate Professor and MSSW Program Director of the Social Work Department at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Abstract
As we approach the end of the second decade of the new millennium, the United States continues to see significant growth of the Hispanic population. It is expected that one in every six people will be Hispanic by the close of the second decade, and that by 2060, the population will increase to approximately 128.8 million, or 31% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Along the South Texas-Mexico border, the Hispanic population ranges from approximately 80-95%, and many of these areas are poverty stricken and greatly underserved. Consequently, social workers are in great demand to help meet the multiple and diverse needs of those living in these areas. As a result of the collaboration between a Texas university and a community college, students have been able to obtain a social work degree via distance education.
The Need for Social Workers Along the South Texas-Mexico Border: Meeting the Need Through Distance Education
Introduction
As we approach the end of the second decade of the new millennium, the United States continues to see significant growth of the Hispanic population. It is expected that one in every six people will be Hispanic by the close of the second decade, and that by 2060, the population will increase to approximately 128.8 million or 31% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Consequently, Hispanics will play an increasingly important role in U.S. society and all aspects related to it, such as the economy, education, health, mental health and the future as a whole.
Article 1: The Need for Social Workers Along the South Texas-Mexico Border: Meeting the Need Through Distance Education
Author: Dr. Denise A. Longoria
Assistant Professor of Social Work The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Dr. Denise A. Longoria is an assistant professor of social work at UTRGV. She holds an MSSW from University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Education from Capella University. Her areas of interest and expertise include social work practice, family violence issues, working with older adults, mental health issues, and social work education. In addition to teaching social work courses, Dr. Longoria is responsible for recruitment and advising of Laredo students enrolled in the distance education program. Dr. Longoria maintains a small private practice where she provides individual and couples’ therapy.
Contact Info:
Denise Longoria, Ph.D., LCSW
Assistant Professor of Social Work
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Mail Address: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
1201 W. University Dr.
Edinburg, TX 78539 Phone: (956) 665-3575 Fax: (956) 665-3516 Email: denise.longoria@utrgv.edu
Author: John M. Gonzalez, Ph. D., LMSW
Associate Professor and MSSW Program Director Social Work Department The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
John M. Gonzalez, PhD, LMSW, associate professor at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, Department of Social Work. He is also the Director of the MSSW Program. His research interests are older Latinos and mental health services. He also authored and co-authored publications on older Latinos and mental health services and older adults overcoming oppression.
Article 2: Online Learning: No Worries at Community Colleges
Author: Dr. Sherese A. Mitchell
Assistant Professor
Hostos Community College, CUNY
Dr. Sherese A. Mitchell has served as an Assistant Professor at Hostos Community College for 9 years. She holds an Educational Doctorate in instructional Leadership with a focus in Learning Styles. Prior to working in academics, she spent 20 years in the field working with children in various settings and leadership roles. Dr. Mitchell has brought that experience to her current instructional position to future educators enrolled in methods courses at Hotos. In those courses, she constantly invites student- and colleague- feedback to revise course organization and content to meet the varied learning needs of all students. She is passionate about student accountability and classroom management and provides staff development on such. Dr. Mitchell is a strong advocate of student accountability and serves as a chair of the Student Disciplinary and Instructional Evaluation committees at Hostos. She is an Executive board member of NACCTEP (National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs) and the Children’s center at Hostos. Additionally, she provides voluntary services of staff development in educational settings and is the Academic Director at a summer camp. Beyond learning-style and note-taking research, Dr. Mitchell has presented many papers at National, local and regional conferences.
Contact info: Dr. Sherese A. Mitchell
Assistant Professor
Hostos Community College, CUNY Mail Address: Hostos Community College
500 Grand Concourse (Room A107) Phone: (718) 518-4413 Email: smitchell@hostos.cuny.edu
Article 3: Relación entre las características socioeconómicas de los estudiantes de un Colegio Comunal en la ciudad de Nueva York con las calificaciones obtenidas en Cursos de Educación Asincrónicos.
Author: Dr. Sonia Maldonado Torres
Assistant Professor Hostos Community College, CUNY
Dr. Sonia Maldonado Torres was born in Puerto Rico and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. She possesses two Masters’ degrees—one in Guidance and Counseling from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and a second one in Educational Psychology from SUNY at Albany. She completed a doctoral degree in Education and Leadership at Fielding University in California. In 1996 she moved to New York City and began working at Hostos Community College (HCC) spending fifteen (15) years of her academic career working as an academic counselor in the Division of SDEM. In 2011, Dr. Maldonado Torres joined the Teachers Education Unit where she is currently working as an Assistant Professor. Some of the courses she imparts within the Unit are: Introduction to Education, Social Studies and Language Arts for Bilingual Students, Multicultural Education, Special Education, and Creative Arts among others.
Dr. Maldonado Torres has published her research work in different reputable journals and had served as editor in Journals such as Journal of Latinos in Education and the Journal of Hispanics in Higher Education. Her research interests are mainly focused on 1) Latino students’ learning styles, 2) Students’ graduation and retention, 3) English Language Learners (ELL), and 4) Multiculturalism. She has presented her research findings in National and International Conferences such as the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and in different colleges and universities around the nation.
Contact Info:
Dr. Sonia Maldonado Torres
Assistant Professor
Hostos Community College, CUNY Phone: (646) 298-5633 Email:smaldonado@hostos.cuny.edu