VANIA BUCK

Vania Shasta Buck (she, her, ella) is a dedicated Mexican-American scholar and the daughter of immigrant parents, with roots in Guanajuato and Tijuana, Mexico. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University and her MSW from California State University, Chico. Vania began her social work career in 2017 with San Diego Child Welfare Services, where she evaluated and approved families for fostering and adoption. She later served as a bilingual social worker in Tehama County, investigating child abuse cases and providing culturally sensitive support to Latinx families.

Vania’s research and teaching are centered on transforming the child welfare system to better serve Latinx and immigrant communities. Before pursuing her PhD, she contributed to the University of Denver’s Butler Institute for Families as a research associate on the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) Evaluation Team. Vania’s personal journey, shaped by her bilingual upbringing and commitment to social justice, fuels her ambition to create lasting change in the child welfare system. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys rewatching the Twilight Saga and The Office, exploring the outdoors, delving into true crime shows, and searching for the best carne asada tacos, with her current favorite being in Tijuana, MX.