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Laura Montero
Lecturer of Social Work
Social Work
[email protected]Office Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 11am.
Biography
Laura Montero joined the Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2019. She teaches Research Methods, Advanced Practice: Leadership, Developing the Capstone Proposal, and Implementing the Capstone Project. Her teaching is grounded in macro social work practice, applied research, program evaluation, and social policy, with an emphasis on connecting classroom learning to ethical and justice-oriented practice.Laura earned her MSW from the University of Michigan School of Social Work, with a concentration in Social Policy and Program Evaluation, and completed two years of doctoral coursework in Social Welfare at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. Her work centers applied research, program evaluation, and policy analysis as tools for strengthening social programs, advancing equity, and supporting children, youth, families, and communities.
Laura is passionate about supporting students as they build confidence in research, develop their professional voice, and prepare for ethical, culturally responsive, and community-informed social work practice. She also serves on Faculty Senate and the Professional Leave Committee, contributing to shared governance, faculty development, and institutional service. Laura brings an international perspective to social work education, shaped by research, practice, teaching, and cross-cultural learning across more than 40 countries.
Research Interests
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Program evaluation, transition-age foster youth, crossover youth, international social welfare policy, immigration, refugee and asylum seeker resettlement, and macro social work practice.
Teaching Interests
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My teaching is grounded in experiential learning, constructivist pedagogy, and critical reflection. I strive to create an inclusive, intellectually engaging learning environment where students actively build knowledge through dialogue, reflection, practice application, and connection to lived and professional experience. I view students’ diverse perspectives, field experiences, and community knowledge as essential to meaningful social work education.
Guided by the values and ethics of the profession, I emphasize ethical research, critical inquiry, and alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics. Across my teaching, I encourage students to examine how context, culture, power, and social location shape research, policy, and practice. I invite students to consider how research and evaluation can be used to inform decision-making, strengthen programs, improve services, and advance human rights and social justice.
My goal is to support students in becoming thoughtful, ethical, and reflective practitioners who use evidence, professional judgment, and community-informed perspectives to strengthen practice and contribute to meaningful social change.
Education
Other in Teaching English as a Second Language
University of Cambridge
in Completed 90 hours of doctoral courses in Social Welfare
University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs
MSW in Social Policy and Program Evaluation
University of Michigan, School of Social Work
BS in Political Science (cum laude)
Arizona State University, School of Politics and Global Studies
Other in Political Science
Semester at Sea Study Abroad Program
Published Works
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Abrams, L., Montero, A. L. (2018). What is a Juvenile? A Cross-national comparison of youth justice systems. .
Abrams, L., Jordan, S., Montero, L. (2018). What is a Juvenile? A cross-national comparison of youth justice systems. . .
Montero, L. . Examining the influence of religious affiliation on attitudes toward political and social involvement. . Society for Social Work and Research. Annual Conference. New Orleans. ,
Lalayants, M., Montero, L., Abrams, L., Curry, S. (2017). Transition-age foster youth and caregiver perceptions of self-sufficiency. .
Montero, L. . Montero, L., Smiedt, M., & Barragan. Examining the social networks within an urban police precinct. . Society for Social Work and Research. Annual Conference. New Orleans,
Abrams, L., Curry, S., Lalayants, M., Montero, L. (2016). The influence of policy context on transition-age foster youths’ views of self-sufficiency.. .
Gutiérrez, L., Montero, L. (2013). Gutiérrez, L., Montero, L., & Vail, M. (October 2013). Impact of religious identity and religiosity on student community engagement. . ,