Natasha Mendoza is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. She earned her doctorate in social work at The Ohio State University and completed her postdoctoral training at the State University of New York at Buffalo Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions.
Dr. Mendoza’s scholarship is focused on substance use, co-occurring disorders, and connecting service systems (i.e., harm reduction, treatment, crisis response, health care, criminal justice, and child welfare). Additionally, Dr. Mendoza's work as a researcher and educator serves to explore and elucidate the ways in which identity (i.e., cultural, gender, sexual) and wellness may be assets in behavioral health.
The foundation of her scholarship is built on the premise that behavior change is largely a function of interpersonal relationships, occurring within the context of culture, across multiple systems, and in consideration of power and oppression.
Aside from research, Dr. Mendoza is actively engaged in preparing students to work in partnership with members of the LGBTQ+ community and build on the empirical foundation of social work with an emphasis on the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders.