The New York State Social Work Education Association (NYSSWEA) is honored to welcome Dr. Quiros as the keynote speaker for our 57th Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. Dr. Quiros brings a wealth of expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and trauma-informed practice, which are essential to all discussions surrounding the social determinants of health. We look forward to Dr. Quiros's insights at our keynote luncheon on Thursday, 10/18.

Dr. Laura Quiros, Ph.D., LMSW, is a distinguished educator, leader, consultant, coach, and trainer specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate, professional services, higher education, and nonprofit sectors. For 12 years, Dr. Quiros served as an Associate Professor of Social Work at Adelphi University, educating master-level and doctoral-level students. As of 2022, she joined Montclair State University’s Department of Social Work and Child Protection as an Associate Professor. This role placed her in Montclair, NJ, where she continues her leadership and engagement in anti-oppression work within the local school system and the broader community.

Dr. Quiros' research and academic interests center on the social construction of racial and ethnic identity and trauma-informed care through a social justice lens. She also serves as the director of Adelphi University’s external Diversity Certificate Program, offered through the College of Professional and Continuing Studies. In 2021, Dr. Quiros was honored with the Adelphi University Award for Excellence in Teaching Social Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. This award recognizes faculty members who commit to these values in their teaching practices, going beyond the standard curriculum.

As a Latina and Jewish woman of color, a mother, a daughter, a former associate dean, an associate professor of social work, a coach, a consultant, a friend, and a partner, Dr. Quiros leverages her personal experiences to foster connections, promote inclusion, and uphold empathetic accountability. Her journey of negotiating her own identity has equipped her with the tools to create safe spaces and relate to the diverse experiences of others, making her a relatable and empathetic figure in her field.

Dr. Quiros holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare from the City University of New York Graduate School and University Center, where her dissertation explored “The Social Construction of Racial and Ethnic Identity among Mixed-Descent Women of Color: Psychological and Sociological Freedoms.” She also earned a Master of Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Skidmore College. Her extensive educational background and research have culminated in her most recent book, Incorporating Diversity and Inclusion in Trauma-Informed Social Work, which focuses on integrating discussions of leadership, racism, and oppression into a new understanding of how trauma and traumatic experiences shape leadership and organizational cultures.