Prof. Luz López Receives Excellence in Teaching Award as Part of 2020 Recognition Ceremony
On October 3, 2021, BUSSW will host a 2020 Recognition Ceremony acknowledging the achievements of the Class of 2020 whose commencement ceremony was delayed due to COVID-19. As part of the in-person event, where participating students will cross the stage and receive their well-deserved recognition from Dean Delva, Professor Luz López will receive The Excellence in Teaching Award, voted on by students and given each year to a faculty member who has inspired their education.
The nominations for Clinical Professor López, who also directs the MSW/MPH Dual Degree Program and the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health’s (CISWH) Global Health Core, included accolades such as,
“I am nominating Luz López for her excellence in teaching and for motivating her students to be outstanding social workers. She also motivated students to attend the yearly trip to Puerto Rico to learn and assist individuals experiencing hardships.”
“…always supportive and provided feedback which was helpful in my learning.”
“…humble and honestly cares about each and every student she comes across.”
“…very professional, high expectations, but also incredibly compassionate.”
“I aspire to be the social worker she is.”
As her faculty profile illustrates, Luz Marilis López believes in strength-based and culturally responsive partnerships to advance health equity, social work, and public health practices around the globe. As the Global Health Core Director at BUSSW’s Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH), she has been working in Nicaragua in collaboration with the Superemos Foundation domestic violence program, a Boston Medical Center and Dorchester House medical brigade, and the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua in Esteli (UNAN-FAREM), conducting workshops on violence prevention, education, and trauma care. In Uganda, López has collaborated with the social work program at Makarere University to address the mental health needs of immigrants, refugees, and displaced persons—many survivors of war and sexual violence.
Professor López conducts an annual summer cultural immersion course and research experience in Puerto Rico where MSW students work with individuals who are homeless and in recovery from substance use. These students gain invaluable experience with outreach and community-based participatory research approaches for Latinx and other racially, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse groups.
Professor López is also an advisory board member of the National Hispanic & Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network.
Get to Know Professor López
All graduating BUSSW students nominate candidates for the award from a list of faculty – full-time, half-time, and lecturers who have taught at least ten courses over the past five years and haven’t received the award in the previous three years.