Carol Meza

About Carol Meza

Dr. Meza is an Army combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient with 12 years of military experience. She joined the faculty in the School of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences in the fall of 2022. Dr. Meza earned her Ph.D. in social work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX, and her dissertation focused on military women who were sexually assaulted while serving active duty and sought mental health services within the civilian sector. Prior to joining PSU, Dr. Meza worked for the Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office at Fort Snelling in St. Paul, MN, serving the veteran population and their families. She also has many years of experience in child welfare in the state of Kansas as well as interpreting for the courts. Dr. Meza is interested in research topics related to intimate partner violence, military sexual trauma, best practice mental health modalities for service members, gun violence prevention, preparing social work students for gun violence, and undocumented immigrants/refugees residing in the United States.

Dr. Meza’s latest projects include the revision of the Council on Social Work Education Military Social Work Guide, expected to be published in the summer of 2024; a qualitative study titled "Unveiling the Experiences and Unmet Needs: A Qualitative Exploration of Undocumented Immigrants Residing in Kansas"; a qualitative study titled "Addressing Gun Violence Through Social Work Education," and a qualitative study titled: “A Qualitative Exploration of Therapy Preferences Among Military Service Members.”

In her spare time, Dr. Meza enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, engaging in activities around their hobby farm, serving her community, the veteran population, rescuing homeless cats and dogs, fishing in the lakes and strip pits of Southeast Kansas, and participating in trapping, hunting, and camping.

Education

• Ph.D., Social Work, Our Lady of the Lakes University, San Antonio, TX, 2023.
• M.S.W., Social Work, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 2015.
• B.S.W., Social Work, Psychology minor, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, 2014.
• A.S., Criminal Justice, Fort Scott Community College, Fort Scott, KS, 2007.

Courses Taught

• SWK 345: Military Social Work Practice
• SWK 422: Intermediate Internship
• SWK 619: Pre-Practicum Seminar
• SWK 621: Practicum in Social Work
• SWK 622: Integrative Seminar in Social Work
• SWK 721: Foundation Social Work Practicum I
• SWK 722: Foundation Practicum Integrative Seminar I
• SWK 723: Foundation Social Work Practicum II
• SWK 724: Foundation Practicum Integrative Seminar II

Teaching Emphases

• Military Social Work Practice
• Social Work Field Practice

Research Interests

• Military Sexual Trauma
• Intimate Partner Violence
• Mental Health Effects during COVID-19
• Preparing Social Work Students for Gun Violence
• Undocumented Immigrants/Refugees in the United States
• Gender Issues

Publications

• Hawley-Bernardez, A., Patton, J., Meza, C., and Gibbson, G. (2023). Addressing Gun Violence Through Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2024.2334788
• Meza C., (2023). Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of Active-Duty Women, Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma Who Sought Mental Health Services Within the Civilian Sector: A Thematic Analysis. Published through Our Lady of the Lake University ProQuest Dissertations Publishing (30245640), March 3, 2023. 
• Meza, C., Bakke, C., Hawley-Bernardez, A. (2023). Unveiling the Experiences and Unmet Needs: A Qualitative Exploration of Undocumented Immigrants Residing in Kansas. Accepted and submitted for publication April, 2024.

Selected Presentations

• Alexander, M., Hawley-Bernardez, A., & Meza, C. (2022). Teaching while Black: An analysis of microaggressions on black faculty in social work. Panel presentation for the annual program meeting of the 2022 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Anaheim, CA.
• Meza, C. & Hawley-Bernardez, A. (2022). Experiences of Female Veteran Military Sexual Trauma: A Thematic Analysis. Presented at the annual program meeting of the 2022 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Anaheim, CA. 
  Work Students for Gun Violence. Manuscript Accepted. Submitted and accepted by the Social Work Distance Education 2023 Virtual Conference April 12-14, 2023.
• Meza, C. (2023). Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of Active-Duty Women, Survivors of Miliary Sexual Trauma Who Sought Mental Health Services Within the Civilian Sector: A Thematic Analysis. Heartland Social Work Virtual Conference, NASW Kansas Chapter, March 03, 2023.
• Meza, C. (2023). A Mixed Methods Study: Determinants of Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD Symptomatology in Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic Presented at the National Social Science Association Annual Conference of 2023, Virtual Conference, April 26, 2023.
• Meza, C. (2023). Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of Active-Duty Women, Survivors of Miliary Sexual Trauma Who Sought Mental Health Services Within the Civilian Sector: A Thematic Analysis.  Presented the National Social Science Association Annual Conference of 2023, Virtual Conference, April 26, 2023.
• Meza, C. (2023). Unveiling the Experiences and Unmet Needs: A Qualitative Exploration of Undocumented Immigrants Residing in Kansas. Tilford Conference October 7, 2023.
• Caffre, T., Meza, C. (2023). The Importance of Understanding Military Culture in all Social Work Practice. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting Conference of 2023, Atlanta, GA. October 28, 2023.
• Bronzo, A., Meza, C. (2024). An Allied Front: Strengthening Civilian Support for MST Survivors Through Military-Informed Healing. National Sexual Assault Conference 2024, Washington, DC. August 14, 2024. 

Recent Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

• Outstanding Alumna- Fort Scott Community College, Spring 2024
• Folds of Honor Recipient, May 2021-2023
• Outstanding PhD Candidate, Our Lady of the Lake University, Summer 2022
• Schultz Fellowship, Our Lady of the Lakes University, Summer 2022
• Wounded Warrior Scholar Recipient-The University of Kansas, Fall 2015
• Outstanding Social Work Graduate Student-The University of Kansas, Fall 2015
• Outstanding Social Work Student-Pittsburg State University, Spring 2014
• Founder of the Brad and Dana Cameron Scholarship-Pittsburg State University, Spring 2014
• Purple Heart recipient, Combat service, Iraq, 2011
• Combat Action Badge, Combat service, Iraq, 2011
• Army Commendation Medal, Combat Service, Iraq, 2011