Speaker Information

Dr. Sharon Cuba Rodriguez is a school social worker for the Child Study Team at East Orange Campus High School, NJ and Faculty at Kean University, Department of Graduate Social Work at Union, NJ. Dr. Rodriguez has a double master’s degree: Masters of Social Work from Rutgers University (NJ) and Masters of Science in Criminal Justice from Ashworth University (GA). She obtained her PhD on November 2017 from Walden University.

Dr. Cuba Rodriguez has more than 15 years of experience working with HIV/AIDS prevention and education, hospital discharge planning, and working with students with disabilities. She assisted in the disaster and trauma response in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. As a faculty member at Kean University, she teaches various courses including Generalist, Policy, Research, Social Work in School Setting, and International Social Work. She has also redeveloped the Research 1 and 2 courses to align it with the CSWE competencies. Dr. Cuba Rodriguez’s interest include advocacy, national and international women’s rights, HIV/AIDS, intimate partner violence, individuals with disabilities, mental health and wellness, cultural competence and cultural humility, trauma including ACEs and self-care.

Speaker Information

Azalia Gongora Larrieu is a dedicated mental health therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Belize with the Ministry of Health, and a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist. She is a second year doctoral student pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) in Trauma-Informed Leadership and Practice at Barry University, where she currently serves as a Graduate Assistant. Her clinical and academic focus emphasizes trauma-informed care and the integration of mind and body in therapeutic practices.

With a specialization in trauma, Azalia utilizes a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Integrative art based therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to name a few. Her interventions highlight the critical connection between mental and physical health, empowering clients to heal and thrive.

Azalia has extensive expertise in planning academic conferences, and collaborating with international organizations. She is proud to also serve as Vice President of the Mental Health Association, where she advocates for mental health awareness and supports initiatives aimed at improving access to mental health care in Belize.

With over ten years of experience as an educator at the University of Belize, Azalia lectures in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Social Work Department. She has provided clinical and administrative supervision to social work students, interns, and professionals, fostering their growth and development. Currently, Azalia is the Chair of the Social Work Department, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Belize.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Murray State University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Western Kentucky University, USA. As a clinician, she works with individuals and groups throughout the lifespan. She is passionate about helping others reach their full potential through compassionate trauma-informed care.