Natalie Beck Aguilera, DSW, LCSW-S earned her Bachelor's degree from Southwestern University, Master's degree in Social Work from The University of Texas, and Doctor of Social Work from The University of Tennessee. She has practiced as a professional social worker for over 14 years in the fields of juvenile justice, school-based mental health, and substance use treatment. Dr. Beck Aguilera's areas of passion include family-based treatment for adolescents and breaking the school-to-prison pipeline.
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, St. Edward's University, 2024 - present
Assistant Professor, St. Edward's University, 2019 - 2024
Adjunct Assistant Professor, The University of Texas, 2016 - 2019
Doctor of Social Work, The University of Tennessee, 2017
Master of Science in Social Work, The University of Texas, 2009
Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Southwestern University, 2004
Honors and Awards
2022 Behavioral and Social Sciences Faculty Research Award
2021 Champion Award for Mission Informed Teaching, Center for Teaching Excellence
Organizations, Boards and Memberships
Nationally-Recognized Nurturing Parenting® Program Trainer/Consultant
National Association of Social Workers
Council on Social Work Education
Texas Field Educators Consortium
Conferences
Beck Aguilera, N. & Galarza, J. (February 2023). The Impact of High Stakes Testing on Marginalized Students. Texas School Social Work Conference, Austin, TX.
Beck Aguilera, N. & Dalrymple, K. (October 2022). Corrections to College: Reversing the School to Prison Pipeline. National Association of Social Workers Texas State Conference, virtual.
Beck Aguilera, N., Murillo-Trejo, A., & Zapata Lopez, A. (September 2022). Is the Push to “Harden” Schools Widening the School-to-Prison Pipeline? Social Work and Law National Symposium, virtual.
Goering, L., Garza, K., West, S., & Beck Aguilera, N. (August 2022). Building and Sustaining a Professional Learning Community: How the Antiracist Teaching Group Supports Critical Reflection and Change. St. Edward’s University Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching Symposium, Austin, TX.
Beck Aguilera, N. (April 2022). Is the Push to “Harden” Schools Widening the School-to-Prison Pipeline? School Social Work Association of America National Conference, Chicago, IL.
Beck Aguilera, N. & Cortez, C. (February 2022). Evidence-Based Strategies for Family Engagement. Texas School Social Work Conference, virtual.
Beck Aguilera, N. & Ochocki, S. (October, 2021). Building Resilience & Bridging Differences. National Center for School Mental Health Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, virtual.
Beck Aguilera, N. & Green, J. (September 2021). Addressing the Interconnected Layers of Reproductive Control. Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s Annual Symposium, virtual.
Beck Aguilera, N., Yowell, C., & Matos, K. (August 2021). Collaborating & Connecting Across Disciplines through Social Justice Advocacy. St. Edward’s University Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching Symposium, Austin, TX.
Beck Aguilera, N. (June, 2021). Evidence-Based Strategies for Family Engagement. Texas Network of Youth Services Conference, virtual.
Beck, N., & Plant, I. (April, 2021). Addressing Microaggressions in the Classroom. Holy Cross Institute Convocation, virtual.
Beck, N., & Plant, I. (April, 2021). Is the Push to “Harden” Schools Widening the School-to-Prison Pipeline? Southwestern Social Sciences Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Beck, N., & Ochocki, S. (February 2021). Is the Push to “Harden” Schools Widening the School-to-Prison Pipeline? Texas School Social Work Conference, virtual.
Beck, N. & Ochocki, S. (October, 2020). Is the Push to “Harden” Schools Widening the School-to-Prison Pipeline? National Center for School Mental Health Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, virtual.
Beck, N., Trimble, J., & Phillips, J. (August, 2020). Multiple Perspectives on Utilizing e-Portfolios. St. Edward’s University Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching Symposium, virtual.
Beck, N. & Ochocki, S. (October, 2019). Evidence-Based Strategies for Family Engagement. National Center for School Mental Health Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Austin, Texas.
Beck, N. (June, 2017). The Nurturing Program: An Evidence-Based, Trauma-Informed Intervention Used in Diverse Settings. Texas Network of Youth Services Conference, Houston, Texas.
Beck, N. (May, 2017). The Nurturing Program: An Evidence-Based, Trauma-Informed Intervention Used in Diverse Settings. Healthy Youth Partnership Conference, Austin, Texas.
Publications
Beck Aguilera, N., Medley, W., Gage, C., & Hutchison, A. (2022). Addressing Class in Field: Economic Justice and Unpaid Social Work Practicums. In Drolet, J., Bogo, M., Charles, G. & McConnell, S. (Eds.) Transforming Social Work Field Education: New Insights from Practice Research and Scholarship. University of Calgary Press. https://ucp.manifoldapp.org/projects/9781773854403/resource/tswfe-chapt…
Alvarez, M., Beck, N., Cuellar, M., Lucio, R., McCoy, C., Ochocki, S., Robles Sinkule, M., Rivers Cannon, T., Villarreal Sosa, L., (2020). School Social Work Association of America Responds to the Role of Law Enforcement in Schools from a Racial Justice Lens. London, KY. School Social Work Association of America. https://aab82939-3e7b-497d-8f30-a85373757e29.filesusr.com/ugd/486e55_ab…
Beck, N., & Ochocki, S. (2020, July 16). Home Visits Not Handcuffs.
https://medium.com/@natalie.d.beck/home-visits-not-handcuffs-e0eb6b9058…
Articles
Beck Aguilera, N., Thompson, P., Patterson, D., Lucio, R., Springer, D., & Ochocki, S. (2023). Improving current functioning and preventing future abuse: Exploring outcomes of the Nurturing Parenting Program with adolescents. Families in Society.
Ochocki, S., Frey, A., Patterson, D., Herron, F., Beck, N., and Dupper, D. (2020). Evaluating the Zones of Regulation® intervention to improve the self-control of elementary students. International Journal of School Social Work, 5(2).