Maria Aguilar-Amaya

Associate Director, Office of Evaluation and Partner Contracts & Research Analyst, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC)

Mail code: 5120

Campus: Dtphx
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Long Bio

Dr. María Aguilar-Amaya is Director of the Office of Evaluation and Partner Contracts at the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center at Arizona State University. She is a Faculty Associate in the School of Social Work. Her current research focuses on health equity, substance use disorder, and opioid use disorder. She is a bilingual and bicultural researcher. Dr. Aguilar-Amaya is a citizen of Mexico and the United States of America; her ancestorial roots are Apache from Chihuahua, Mexico and Tarasco from Michoacán, Mexico. She has extensive experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation and survey development for the past 25 years. Dr. Aguilar-Amaya served nearly 25 years working in the Arizona Judiciary in various capacities, having worked with crime victims, juvenile and adult probationers, management, and leadership. She has conducted dozens of research studies and numerous ad hoc reports in the areas of population projections, cost savings analysis, reentry, recidivism, Drug Courts, substance abuse, evidence-based practices, and probation supervision. Dr. Aguilar-Amaya possesses the following certifications: Real Colors Facilitator by the National Curriculum & Training Institute, ACEs Trainer by the Arizona ACEs Consortium, CTC Facilitator by the UW, The Center for Communities that Care, Arizona Court Management Program and the Executive Court Management Program by the National Center for State Courts, Advanced Public Speaker by Achieve Global, and as a Motivational Interviewing Facilitator. Dr. Aguilar-Amaya possesses an Associates in General Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice with a minor in Communications, a Master of Arts in Organizational Management, and a Doctorate in Management and Organizational Leadership. She served as President for the Arizona Evaluation Network (AZENet), as a Director at Large for the Arizona Courts Association, and as a member of the Arizona Governor's Office Substance Abuse Epidemiology Work Group. She is an active member of the Arizona Health Equity Conference Committee.

Education

Doctorate in Management and Organizational Leadership
- University of Phoenix
  - Dissertation: Probation Leaders Perspectives of Evidence-based Practices and Probation Outcomes.
Masters in Organizational Management
- University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice
- Arizona State University
Associate in General Studies Phoenix Community College

Research Interests

Health Equity
Opioids Epidemic
Substance Abuse
Criminal Justice
Drug Courts
Specialty Courts
Probation
Corrections
Victims' Rights

Publications

Wu, S., Johnson, S. L., Wolfersteig, W., Diaz, M. J., & Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2022). The power of local research to inform adverse childhood experiences in substance use prevention in adolescents and adults. BMC Public Health: 22: 1197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13503-3
Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2020). “Review of The Homelessness Industry: A Critique of U.S. Social Policy by Elizabeth Beck and Pamela C. Twiss.” The Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare. Vol. 47: Iss. 3, Article 9.
Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2020). “Review of Critical Multiculturalism and Intersectionality in a Complex World by Lacey M. Sloan, Mildred C. Joyner, Catherine J. Stakeman, and Cathryne L. Schmitz.” The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 47: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Aguilar-Amaya, M. and Gutierrez, M. (2019). Implementing compassion fatigue prevention for lay employees conducting naloxone training: An example from rural Arizona. Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 18, 314-321. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1533256X.219.1640018
Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2015). Aligning leadership and management practices with EBP. Perspectives, (Spring)
Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2013). A quantitative study of probation outcomes and leaders' perceptions of evidence-based practices. (Order No. 3570363, University of Phoenix). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 159
Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2006). A proactive approach to community supervision: Probation or prison? The Chronicle, XVII(1), 2-3
Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2004). Evidence-based practices at work: How one destitute meth addict found his way back into society. The Chronicle, XVII(1), 2-4

Research Activity

Evaluations (Past 2 Years):

Mercado, M., Hernandez, N., Aguilar-Amaya, M., & Ramakumar, S., (2023). Grants for the benefit of homeless individuals: Establishing a profile of homeless individuals served while identifying structural and systemic barriers. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Rodriguez-Gonzalez, N., & Martinez Sanchez, Jennifer., (2023). Phoenix Indian Center 2022-2023 Youth development activities evaluation: Participation satisfaction report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Smith, M., & Rodriguez, N., (2023). Overdose data to action (OD2A): A regional analysis of Arizona’s readiness to address the opioid epidemic. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Smith, M., Aguilar-Amaya, M., Kaplan, J., Ramakumar, S., & Rodriguez, N., (2023). Overdose data to action (OD2A): A multiyear comprehensive analysis regarding community readiness and compassion fatigue resiliency. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Wolfersteig, W., Hamm, K., Aguilar-Amaya, M., Padilla, F. V., & Sanchez, J. M. (2023). Health disparities needs and resources assessment: Report on COVID-19 vaccine efforts in Arizona rural counties. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Rodriguez-Gonzalez, N., de Luca Funke, M., & Wolfersteig, W. 2022). Addressing COVID-19 health literacy and social determinants of health in Maricopa County. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Rodriguez, N., & Diaz, M. (2022). Overdose data to action: Annual report 2022. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., (2022). A comparative analysis regarding opioid use disorder and stigma: Findings across different years and groups. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Diaz, M. J., Gutierrez, M., & Bogale, Y. (2021). Maricopa County Department of Public Health: Qualitative Summary Report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Hilley, C., Moreland, D., Aguilar-Amaya, M., & Wolfersteig, W. (2022). Barriers and facilitators of tobacco prevention and cessation among populations at higher risk for tobacco use in Maricopa County. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Gutierrez, M., Funke, M., & Diaz, M. (2021). Opioid use disorder and stigma evaluation report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M. & Diaz, M. (2021). Maricopa County Juvenile Probation: Opioid use pilot data report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M. (2021). Maricopa County Juvenile Probation: Training evaluation report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Statue University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M. & Diaz, M. (2021). Overdose data to action: Strategies 4-7 end of year status report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Wolfersteig, W., Aguilar-Amaya, M., Gotlieb, E., & Law, L. (2020). Forward promise: A college and career readiness program evaluation report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Wolfersteig, W., Hilley, C., & de Luca Funke, M. (2020). 2020 Prevention for states overdose data to action: Collaboration, community readiness, and social network analysis evaluation report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Aguilar-Amaya, M., Wolfersteig, W., Sitz, E., & Funke, M. (2020). Urban Institute: EMPOWER implementation process evaluation report, February 2019 – March 2020. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center.

Research Studies:

Project SAFE Recidivism Study
Low Risk Supervision Recidivism Study
Yuma Drug Court Recidivism Study
Probation Outcomes and Leaders’ Perceptions of Evidence Based Practices
Arizona Probationer Recidivism Study
Yavapai MRT Recidivism Study
Employee Time Study
Juvenile Transferred Offender Program Study
The Arizona Probation Violators Study

Research Designed:

Summative Evaluation to Explore Factors that Hinder or Facilitate SMI Probation Supervision
Conceptual Analysis of Policy and Procedures that Guide SMI Caseloads
Arizona Intensive Probation Supervision Case Study
The Impact of Probation Officer Home Visits on Offender Outcomes

Courses

2022 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
SWG 619	Practice-Oriented Research

2021 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
PSY 330	Statistical Methods

2020 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
PSY 330	Statistical Methods

2020 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
CED 502	Counseling data analysis

Presentations

American Probation and Parole Association • Speaker • 02/2016 - Public speaker at the Winter Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA; Topic presentation: The Impact of Rolling Out EBP Statewide: Ten Years in the Making of the Evolution of EBP in Arizona and Its Impact on Probation Violators.
American Probation and Parole Association • Speaker • 08/2014 - Public speaker at the 39th Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.; Topic presentation: Probation Outcomes and Leaders’ Perceptions of Evidence-based Practices.
American Probation and Parole Association • Speaker • 08/2010 - Public speaker at the 35th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.; Topic presentation: Aligning Management and Leadership Practices with Evidence-based Practices.
Isaac Middle School • Tutor • 01/2008 - 04/2008 - Tutored middle school students in English and Math.
Alfred F. Garcia Elementary School • Tutor• 09/1995 - 04/1996 - Tutored fifth grades students in English, Math, and Reading.

Honors / Awards

Employee of the Month • Arizona Supreme Court • 2016 • Recipient of the Employee of the Month award for going above and beyond the requirements of my job duties and for volunteering and offering assistance without being asked on projects.
You Can Do It Award • Arizona Supreme Court • 2014 • Recipient of the annual award for translating English court forms into Spanish.
Honorary Degree • Arizona State University • 2003 • Recipient of recognition from ASU’s President Crow at graduation for overcoming obstacle, managing a work/life balance, and engaging in volunteer work while attending college.
Employee of the Month • Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office • 2003 • Recipient of monthly award for providing outstanding services to victims.
Joe Kegan’s Award • American Probation & Parole Association • 2001 • Recipient of the annual national award for providing outstanding services to crime victims.