Melody Loya

Dr. Melody Aye Loya is a contributing faculty member at Walden in the BSW program. She earned her BSW from West Texas A&M University; her MSSW from the University of Texas at Arlington, and her Ph.D. from Capella University in Human Services with a concentration in Social Work and Community Services. She resides in Arizona but held a Texas Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with Independent Practice Recognition (IPR) for many years. She recently relocated to Arizona and retired her social work license. Her social work experience centered on all aspects of adoption and foster care, including developing a therapeutic foster care program. She has over twenty years of teaching in social work programs in two universities in Texas.

Education

PhD, Capella University

MS, University of Texas at Arlington

BS, West Texas A&M University

Publications

Loya, M., Smith, M. G. (2021). Assessing the Value of Immersion as a Continuing Education Modality in the Field of Social Work. Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education

Loya, M., Furman, R., Jones, S., Nystrom, G. (2014). Building Comunidad: Fundaci\'on Humanitaria de Costa Rica. Social Development Issues

Loya, M. (2011). Color-blind racial attitudes in white social workers: A cross-sectional study. Smith College Studies in Social Work

Loya, M., Peters, K. (2019). Critical literacy: Engaging students to enhance cultural humility in study abroad. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping

Loya, M., Peters, K. (2019). Ethical study abroad: Good intentions aren’t enough.

Loya, M., Jones, S., Sun, H., Furman, R. (2017). Silent struggles—The plight of undocumented students in social work education. Global Social Welfare

Loya, M., Klemm, T. (2016). Teaching note—Using TED Talks in the social work classroom: Encouraging student engagement and discourse. Journal of Social Work Education