Reversing Roles - MSW Alum Dr. Viridiana Ortiz Returns to the Classroom

Published September 28, 2023                                                                                                                            By Darlene Muguiro                                                                                                                                                UTEP College of Health Sciences

This fall, the College of Health Sciences (CHS) is welcoming new faculty members across several departments.

We are pleased to present the fifth profile, featuring Dr. Viridiana Ortiz, clinical assistant professor of Social Work. Ortiz received her Doctor of Social Work degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from UTEP. Her research interests include mental health disparities in minority communities, cultural competence, community-based behavioral health practice, and immigration.

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Viridiana Ortiz, a 2015 graduate of the Master of Social Work Program and current clinical assistant professor, says that she began to be interested in teaching and research while still an undergraduate student.

“I remember that I became very interested in research while I was in the BSW program, and I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Costa Rica as part of the MHIRT (Minority Health International Research Training) Program,” she said. “At that point, I became very passionate about research, and particularly research in minority communities.”

After completing the Advanced Standing MSW Program, Ortiz worked as a medical social worker in a hospital setting and then in a mental health coordinator role for the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo. Throughout these experiences, she maintained a strong interest in returning to school and completing her PhD so that she could focus on mental health-related research in minority communities. She began the PhD in Social Work program at Our Lady of the Lake University in 2020 and graduated in May 2023.

“Unfortunately, we know that there are huge gaps in the literature in mental health in minority communities, particularly among Hispanics.  My study used a secondary data set from SAMSHA to analyze quantitative trends, and it revealed that, unfortunately, Hispanics are still very much an underserved community in mental health,” she said.

Shortly after graduating, Ortiz returned to El Paso for an opportunity to teach at UTEP as an adjunct lecturer in Social Work. She recalls her first day back in the classroom as being nerve-wracking, with her role reversed as the instructor.

“It was funny because when I came in, the students didn’t believe I was the professor; they thought I was part of their class,” she said. “But when I shared my story and the experiences that I had, they were like ok, this makes sense now. I had a bit of imposter syndrome teaching these students at the master’s degree level, and it was a bit of a humbling experience. I’m still learning from my students.”

Ortiz says that one of the things she appreciates most about being faculty at UTEP is the nurturing culture and open admission policy.

“What makes UTEP unique is the acceptance level and how we are incorporating a strengths-based approach, looking at students’ strengths rather than deficiencies,” she said. “Most universities will look at admissions exams and GPA, but UTEP looks beyond that to see what other strengths students are coming into the university with. For example, my students bring tremendous passion for their field and lived experiences, and it’s very enriching for me as their professor.”

Ortiz says her experiences as a former UTEP student provide a unique perspective that help her relate to her students better on an emotional level, and she believes in an open-door policy to encourage conversations regarding their future or career. As a single mom, she also hopes her students will heed her advice on how to balance the many roles they may also have.

“I’m always trying to be as present as possible, managing my time with my daughter, teaching, and my private practice,” she said. “But if you’re passionate about something, you’ve got to continue whatever your path may be. Everything that you dream of is possible and doable – it’s all about discipline and consistency.”

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Go Miners!

For more information about the Master of Social Work Program, please visit: https://www.utep.edu/chs/sw/