Stacy Gherardi

My social work journey started at VU following a medical service trip to Nicaragua in my sophomore year. In finding the social work program, I found a profession that honored my calling to service and worked to dismantle systems that contributed to inequity across the globe. My time at VU allowed me to work with immigrant communities and domestic violence survivors, preparing me for a wide range of social work practice opportunities. Wanting to work with youth, I joined Teach For America after graduating with my BSW and subsequently earned an MSW in School Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. I worked as a school social worker in the Chicago area for 8 years while earning my PhD in Education Policy. I then returned “home” to New Mexico where I transitioned into a faculty role at New Mexico State University. Now, I use the skills I first gained at VU to engage in research on school-based mental health and trauma-informed education and enjoy collaborating with the next generation of social workers through my teaching. I also continue to work directly with schools, providing training and consultation on mental health and trauma-informed practice. I continue to work with young children and their families as a school-based contract therapist. 

There is nothing like the relationships, support, and community found in the VU social work program.  The individualized attention, deep discussion, and skills practice I received during my time at VU have prepared me for a career in social work that spans practice, policy, and research and has provided opportunities for exciting work in a range of diverse settings. I could not be more grateful for the skills and relationships I developed nearly twenty years ago which continue to serve me today!