Jess Lucero

Dr. Jess Lucero serves as Department Head of Social Work and Associate Professor at Utah State University, where she also directs the Transforming Communities Institute and the Full-Time MSW Program. She holds a PhD from Wayne State University (2012), MSW (2008) and BSW (2007) from the University of Wyoming.

Her interdisciplinary research focuses on violence prevention, housing justice, refugee experiences, and community-engaged methodologies. Current projects examine neighborhood effects on violence, housing discrimination, and refugee service integration.

As Board President for Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection and commissioner for the Logan City Planning Commission, she bridges academic research with community action. Her teaching emphasizes community-engaged approaches to social work practice and research methods.