School of Social Work

Liliana Morales is a first-year doctoral candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. Her research interests are in the area of mental health and trauma in immigrant populations.

Morales received her Bachelor of Science from Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, in 2022. She majored in social work and graduated with two minors; one in public health and the second in childhood studies. Her clinical social work internship took place at the GOALS Gear Up Youth Program housed at the Stockton University campus.

At the internship, she gained field experience involving the counseling of Atlantic City children and their families, and helped to facilitate various student success workshops and community engagement efforts. She was able to encourage student academic success, growth and personal development through facilitated workshops as a program counselor.

Morales received her Master of Social Work at Stockton University as well, graduating from their advanced standing program in 2023. She completed her M.S.W. internship at the Inspira Mullica Hill Medical Center working within their ER.

In the M.S.W. internship, she built strong rapport with ER patients, provided good patient care, collaborated with other health professionals, conducted clinical assessments, provided patient education and was involved in patient advocacy.

Morales served as a graduate research assistant for Dr. Lisa Cox and Dr. Gaia Apostle at Stockton University during her master’s program. Morales also conducted independent research at Stockton University reviewing social issues, social policies and the child welfare system in South Africa, as well as current social work interventions being done. She was able to traveled to South Africa to observe interventions are being done and how effective the child welfare agencies and non-profits are in providing services, as well as what the needs and barriers to services are. Morales will serve as a graduate research assistant at VCU in Fall 2024 for Daniel Baslock, Ph.D.

Morales currently has her License of Clinical Social Work registered in New Jersey, but is in the process of transferring it to a Virginia license.

Areas of interest

• Adolescent and Youth Development
• Communities and Neighborhoods
• Community Engagement
• Immigrants and Refugees
• Inequality, Poverty and Social Welfare
• International Social Work and Global Issues
• Mental Health
• Trauma

Education and credentials

LCSW
M.S.W., Stockton University
B.S. in Social Work, Stockton University

View Liliana Morales' curriculum vitae.