Stephanie Pena

Stephanie Pena is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University (ASU) School of Social Work and a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Child Well-Being, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, and Burnes Center on Poverty and Homelessness. Her research prioritizes antiracist, anti-oppressive, and anti-colonial frameworks to address systemic barriers in education, housing, and health equity for Latinx communities.

• Ph.D., University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (2016)
• M.S.W., University of Denver (2005)
• B.A., Metropolitan State University of Denver (2002)

Her work focuses on Critical Race Theory, Latina/o/x Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), and Chicana Feminism, addressing structural barriers affecting Latinx youth and families. She advocates for culturally responsive interventions to improve educational outcomes, parent-child relationships, and housing policies.

Recent publications emphasize health equity for Latinx populations, BIPOC faculty retention, and virtual research methodologies during the pandemic. Key themes include anti-racism, community engagement, and policy reform.

• Public Educator of the Year, ASU (2024)
• Award for Distinguished Instruction in Macro Social Work Practice, ASU (2024)
• Resiliency Fellowship Achievement, ASU (2020)

As a mentor, she supports women of color in doctoral education and has served as a reviewer for journals like Advances in Social Work and Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research. Her research group includes collaborations with ASU's interdisciplinary centers.