Research Associate Professor of Social Work
University of Denver
Nancy M. Lucero, LCSW, is a research associate professor at the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver. Lucero, whose tribal affiliation is Mississippi Choctaw, serves as director of evaluation for the Capacity Building Center for Tribes and as a principle investigator on several Butler Institute for Families tribal projects.
Lucero brings expertise in research design, qualitative methodologies and implementation approaches. She backs these skills with extensive practice experience with tribal and urban Indian Child Welfare programs, in-depth understanding of clinical issues with American Indians, and ability to help non-Native practitioners understand American Indian cultural values and practices.
Lucero is driven by the belief that healthy and culturally connected American Indian children and families represent a victory in Native peoples’ long struggle to resist assimilation and cultural loss. She is committed to supporting tribal child welfare programs’ efforts to incorporate cultural elements as a means of ensuring Native children experience well-being, maintain connections to family and the tribal community, and know and practice their cultural ways.