Marisa Gonzalez, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at New Mexico State University, has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar award.
Gonzalez, who is also pursuing a Ph.D. in social work at Colorado State University, will spend 10 months at Dalat University in Vietnam during the 2025-26 academic year.
At Dalat University, Gonzalez will support the NMSU School of Social Work’s undergraduate internship program while conducting dissertation research on international academic collaborations. Her project, “Social Work Education: Enhancing Policy and Practicum through International Collaboration,” will explore how U.S. academic social work partnerships are perceived by host institutions abroad with the goal of advancing mutually beneficial and culturally responsive collaborations in higher education. The NMSU School of Social Work is housed in the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation.
Through focus groups, needs assessments, and collaborative planning with faculty, students, and community partners, Gonzalez said she will co-develop strategies to enhance practicum experiences for social work students in Vietnam. She also plans to deliver guest lectures, facilitate workshops, and initiate joint publications with faculty and students at Dalat University.
Gonzalez’s work will not only contribute to advancing social work education in Vietnam but will also bring valuable insights and opportunities back to students and faculty in New Mexico.
While the journey ahead is academic in nature, Gonzalez also highlighted the personal side of this adventure.
“The Fulbright is a tremendous honor and incredible professional opportunity to bring my research and teaching into practice on a global stage, and it is also a deeply personal achievement,” Gonzalez said. “As someone who grew up LGBTQ+ in a low-income, single parent household in a rural community and became a first-generation college student, this recognition represents years of hard work turning into more than I ever imagined possible. I am humbled, grateful, and especially excited to share this journey with my 3-year-old son.”
Gonzalez’s background includes international social work experiences in Nepal, Mexico, New Zealand and Costa Rica, along with research focused on decolonizing approaches to global social work education. She said she will return to NMSU after her Fulbright experience to integrate lessons learned into teaching, scholarship and community engagement, furthering the School of Social Work’s mission to prepare culturally competent and globally minded social workers.
-30-
PHOTO CAPTION: Marisa Gonzalez, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at New Mexico State University, has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar award. (Courtesy photo)
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Head and shoulders of a woman.