UTEP Faculty Profiles

Main Content

Mark W. Lusk

Professor Emeritus
Social Work
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

Office Building: Health Sciences and Nursing Building
Office Room:
Phone: (915) 929-4200
Email: mwlusk@utep.edu

Expertise: See Research Profile in Expertise Connector

Bio

Professor Emeritus of Social Work, Dr. Mark Lusk, is an experienced field worker and researcher in Latin America. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, he has lived and worked extensively in South America. He currently writes on human rights, social justice, and forced migration. Mark is licensed in Texas as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).

Awards and Honors

NASW Pioneer Award - National Association of Social Workers Foundation (10/14/2023)
Albert Armendariz Sr. Lifetime Achievement in Human Rights Award - Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project (10/31/2014)
University Faculty Marshal of Students - 2012 to 2018 - University Commencement (05/12/2012)
Lifetime Achievement Award - National Association of Social Workers - El Paso (03/09/2012)
Academic Fellow - Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (01/01/2006-12/31/2006)
Idaho Social Worker of the Year 1996 - National Association of Social Wokers (06/01/1996-06/30/1996)
Fulbright Senior Research Fellow Brazil - Fulbright Foundation (01/01/1989-12/31/1989)
Fulbright Fellow & Scholar Peru - Fulbright Foundation (01/01/1983-12/31/1983)
National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow - University of Arizona - National Endowment for the Humanities (01/01/1982-12/31/1982)

Education

Drug Counseling, University of the Pacific (2013)
EDD in Social Work Education, University of Kentucky (1981)
MSW in Social Work, University of Kentucky (1978)
BA in Sociology/Social Work, New Mexico State University (1972)

Publications

Dismantling US Foreign Assistance Las Cruces Bulletin (2025), Mark W. Lusk.
On Universities and Civil Society Las Cruces Bulletin (2024), Mark W. Lusk.
Reframing the “Migration Crisis” as a Humanitarian and Public Health Emergency Health Promotion Practice (2024), Isabel Latz, Mark W. Lusk.
Social Work Students’ Perspectives on the Future of Human Rights Social Work Education; The International Journal (2024), Marcin Boryczko, Melinda Madew, Mark W. Lusk, Jason Leung.
Authoritarian Nationalism and Social Work International Social Work (2024), Mark W. Lusk, Marcin Boryczko, David Stoesz.
A Path Forward for Social Work, Human Rights and Decolonization Springer Nature (2023), Melinda Madew, Marcin Boryczko, Mark W. Lusk.
Decolonized Approaches to Human Rights and Social Work Springer Nature (2023), Melinda Madew, Marcin Boryczko, Mark W. Lusk.
Decolonizing Social Work Education Springer Nature (2023), Mark W. Lusk, Marcin Boryczko.
Human Rights and the Decolonization of Social Work Springer Nature (2023), Marcin Boryczko, Mark W. Lusk, Melinda Madew.
Mapping Basic Human Rights Instruments Springer Nature (2023), Mark W. Lusk, Nicholas Natividad.
La migración como fuente de vulneración de los derechos humanos de la niñez. (Migration as a source of violation of children’s rights). Estudios Fronterizos 23 (2022), Georgina S. Garcia, Paula S. Santamaria, María del Carmen M. Núñez , Mark W. Lusk.
Mental Health among College Students during the COVID -19 Pandemic at a Hispanic Serving Institution Health Promotion Practice (2022), Gabriel Ibarra-Mejia, Mark W. Lusk, Emre Umucu.
Social Justice and Injustice in the US-Mexico Borderland. ABC-CLIO (2022), Mark W. Lusk.
Social Work Macro History Oxford University & NASW Press (2022), Eva M. Moya, Dave Stoez, Mark Lusk, Silvia Chavez Baray.
Ameliorating Stress and Burnout among Professionals who work with Migrants and Refugees Journal of Human Services: Training, Research & Practice 7 2 (2021), Mark W. Lusk, Samuel Terrazas, .
Witness to Forced Migration: The Paradox of Resiliency Hope Border Institute (2021), Mark W. Lusk, Georgina W. Sanchez.
Ibarra-Mejia, G., Lusk. M., & Jeon, S. (2021). Stress, anxiety, and depression among Latinx university students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Social Development Issues, 43(1). Social Development Issues 43 1 (2021), Gabriel Ibarra-Mejia, Mark W. Lusk, Soyoung Jeong.
Liberation Theology and International Social Work Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2020.1848750 (2020), Mark W. Lusk, Corbett D. .
What this Pandemic Reveals about El Paso El Paso Matters April 20, 2020 (2020), Mark W. Lusk, Luis Fraga, Nicolas Natividad, Dylan Corbett.
Resilience and Well-Being: Protective Factors among Central American and Mexican Migrants and Refugees Migration and Health 2020 2020 (2020), Samuel Terrazas, Mark Lusk.
Human Rights Report: North American Region. Human Rights Commission. International Federation of Social Worker (2020), Mark W. Lusk, Claudia Calderon, Cynthia Peralta, Rosanna Camarena, Georgina Sanchez, Tanya Leyva, Jocelyn Cepeda.

Presentations

Migration & Human Rights: Conscience & Action (2025), Volume Las Cruces New Mexico, Mark W. Lusk.
The New Authoritarianism and Social Work (2025), Volume Virtual, Mark W. Lusk.
Depression and Self Care - Parkinson's (2025), Volume New Mexico, Mark W. Lusk.
Migration & Human Rights for People of Conscience & Action (2024), Volume Edinburg TX, Mark W. Lusk.
Human Rights and Migration (2024), Isabel K. Latz, Mark W. Lusk.
Migration, Human Rights and Authoritarian Nationalism (2024), Volume Edinburg TX, Mark W. Lusk.
Migrant Human Rights Violations at the Border: Policies and a Path Forward (2024), Volume El Paso, Isabel K. Latz, Mark W. Lusk.
Human Rights, Forced Migrants and Refugees (2023), Volume Las Cruces NM, Mark W. Lusk.
Cultural Factors in Clinical Work with Migrant Youth (2023), Volume Pecos TX, Mark W. Lusk.
Social Work with Migrants (2023), Volume University of Texas Permian Basin, Mark W. Lusk.
Resiliencia, Trauma y Migracion Forzada (2022), Volume Ciudad Juarez, Mark W. Lusk.
Resilience and Faith: Lessons for the Public Ministry (2022), Mark W. Lusk.
Trauma and Resilience among Migrant Children from Mexico and Central America (2022), Mark W. Lusk, Georgina .
Refugees at the US Mexico Border (2022), Volume El Paso, Georgina Sanchez Garcia, Mark W. Lusk.
Immigration and Refugee Services in Integrated Care (2022), Mark W. Lusk, Georgina Sanchez, Dr. Bert Johanssen.
Forced Migration from Central America and Mexico (2022), Volume Chicago, Mark W. Lusk, Georgina Sanchez.
Community Health Effects of Immigration Policy in the US Mexico Border Region under the Trump Administration: Policy Implications for Health and Immigration Reform during the Pandemic (2021), Volume Austria, Isabel K. Latz, Mark W. Lusk.
Mental Health Discussions: Resiliency and Self Care during the Pandemic (2020), Volume El Paso, Paul Carrola, Mark W. Lusk.
University Community Partnerships during the COVID Pandemic (2020), Volume UTEP, Mark W. Lusk, Jeremy Slack, Azuri L. Gonzalez, Elena Izquierdo.
Partnerships: A Strengths Approach to Faculty Success (2020), Volume UTEP, Mark W. Lusk.
Work Life Balance for Scientists and Researchers (2020), Volume UTEP Enginerring, Mark W. Lusk.
Social Justice and Liberation Theology in the Border Region (2020), Volume El Paso, Mark W. Lusk.

Grants

No info available.

Current/Future Courses

Term	Course	Section
Spring 2025	CHSC 6390 - Directed Study	26625
Spring 2025	CHSC 6398 - Dissertation	26629
Spring 2025	CHSC 6399 - Dissertation	26632
Spring 2025	CHSC 6385 - Independent Study	26603
Spring 2025	CHSC 6388 - Research Applications	26623

Past Courses

Select Term:

Term	Course	Section	Syllabus
Fall 2024	CHSC 6385 - Independent Study	18085
Fall 2024	SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare	11899
Spring 2023	CHSC 6385 - Independent Study	23800
Spring 2023	SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare	22634	Syllabus
Summer 2022	CHSC 6399 - Dissertation	31646
Spring 2022	CHSC 6399 - Dissertation	23442
Spring 2022	CHSC 6399 - Dissertation	28245
Fall 2021	CHSC 6398 - Dissertation	19741
Summer 2021	CHSC 6385 - Independent Study	36335
Summer 2021	CHSC 6388 - Research Applications	36393
Spring 2021	CHSC 6385 - Independent Study	26794
Summer 2020	SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession	31156
Spring 2020	SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk	23026
Spring 2020	CHSC 6385 - Independent Study	22997
Spring 2020	SOWK 5378 - Independent Study	23620
Spring 2020	SOWK 5395 - International Social Work	29078
Spring 2020	SOWK 3370 - Special Issues in Social Work	23860
Spring 2020	RSRC 4033 - Undergraduate Research	24884
Fall 2019	CHSC 6399 - Dissertation	15226
Fall 2019	CHSC 6385 - Independent Study	12074
Fall 2019	SOWK 5380 - Social Work in the Bdr Regn	12886
Fall 2019	SOWK 3370 - Special Issues in Social Work	15130
Fall 2019	SOWK 5393 - Special Issues in Social Work	15135
Summer 2019	CHSC 6399 - Dissertation	32802
Summer 2019	SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession	31287
Spring 2019	SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk	23239
Spring 2019	CHSC 6399 - Dissertation	25358
Spring 2019	SOWK 5378 - Independent Study	23898
Fall 2018	CHSC 6398 - Dissertation	15623
Fall 2018	SOWK 5380 - Social Work in the Bdr Regn	13096	Syllabus
Summer 2018	CHSC 6388 - Research Applications	32055
Summer 2018	SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession	31394
Spring 2018	SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk	23492
Spring 2018	CHSC 6390 - Directed Study	21699
Spring 2018	SOWK 5378 - Independent Study	24206

Course Evaluations

Term	Course	Section	Evaluation
Fall 2024	SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare	11899	Evaluation
Spring 2023	SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare	22634	Evaluation
Summer 2020	SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession	31156	Evaluation
Spring 2020	SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk	23026	Evaluation
Spring 2020	SOWK 5395 - International Social Work	29078	Evaluation
Spring 2020	SOWK 3370 - Special Issues in Social Work	23860	Evaluation

Bio

Awards and Honors

NASW Pioneer Award - National Association of Social Workers Foundation (10/14/2023)
Albert Armendariz Sr. Lifetime Achievement in Human Rights Award - Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project (10/31/2014)
University Faculty Marshal of Students - 2012 to 2018 - University Commencement (05/12/2012)
Lifetime Achievement Award - National Association of Social Workers - El Paso (03/09/2012)
Academic Fellow - Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (01/01/2006-12/31/2006)
Idaho Social Worker of the Year 1996 - National Association of Social Wokers (06/01/1996-06/30/1996)
Fulbright Senior Research Fellow Brazil - Fulbright Foundation (01/01/1989-12/31/1989)
Fulbright Fellow & Scholar Peru - Fulbright Foundation (01/01/1983-12/31/1983)
National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow - University of Arizona - National Endowment for the Humanities (01/01/1982-12/31/1982)

Drug Counseling, University of the Pacific (2013)
EDD in Social Work Education, University of Kentucky (1981)
MSW in Social Work, University of Kentucky (1978)
BA in Sociology/Social Work, New Mexico State University (1972)

Publications

Dismantling US Foreign Assistance Las Cruces Bulletin (2025), Mark W. Lusk.
On Universities and Civil Society Las Cruces Bulletin (2024), Mark W. Lusk.
Reframing the “Migration Crisis” as a Humanitarian and Public Health Emergency Health Promotion Practice (2024), Isabel Latz, Mark W. Lusk.
Social Work Students’ Perspectives on the Future of Human Rights Social Work Education; The International Journal (2024), Marcin Boryczko, Melinda Madew, Mark W. Lusk, Jason Leung.
Authoritarian Nationalism and Social Work International Social Work (2024), Mark W. Lusk, Marcin Boryczko, David Stoesz.

Presentations

Migration & Human Rights: Conscience & Action (2025), Volume Las Cruces New Mexico, Mark W. Lusk.
The New Authoritarianism and Social Work (2025), Volume Virtual, Mark W. Lusk.
Depression and Self Care - Parkinson's (2025), Volume New Mexico, Mark W. Lusk.
Migration & Human Rights for People of Conscience & Action (2024), Volume Edinburg TX, Mark W. Lusk.
Human Rights and Migration (2024), Isabel K. Latz, Mark W. Lusk.

No info available.

Current/Future Courses

Term

Spring 2025

Course

CHSC 6390 - Directed Study

Section

26625

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2025

Course

CHSC 6398 - Dissertation

Section

26629

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2025

Course

CHSC 6399 - Dissertation

Section

26632

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2025

Course

CHSC 6385 - Independent Study

Section

26603

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2025

Course

CHSC 6388 - Research Applications

Section

26623

Syllabus

Past Courses

Select Term:

Term

Fall 2024

Course

CHSC 6385 - Independent Study

Section

18085

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2024

Course

SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare

Section

11899

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2023

Course

CHSC 6385 - Independent Study

Section

23800

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2023

Course

SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare

Section

22634

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2022

Course

CHSC 6399 - Dissertation

Section

31646

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2022

Course

CHSC 6399 - Dissertation

Section

23442

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2022

Course

CHSC 6399 - Dissertation

Section

28245

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2021

Course

CHSC 6398 - Dissertation

Section

19741

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2021

Course

CHSC 6385 - Independent Study

Section

36335

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2021

Course

CHSC 6388 - Research Applications

Section

36393

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2021

Course

CHSC 6385 - Independent Study

Section

26794

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2020

Course

SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession

Section

31156

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2020

Course

SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk

Section

23026

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2020

Course

CHSC 6385 - Independent Study

Section

22997

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2020

Course

SOWK 5378 - Independent Study

Section

23620

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2020

Course

SOWK 5395 - International Social Work

Section

29078

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2020

Course

SOWK 3370 - Special Issues in Social Work

Section

23860

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2020

Course

RSRC 4033 - Undergraduate Research

Section

24884

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2019

Course

CHSC 6399 - Dissertation

Section

15226

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2019

Course

CHSC 6385 - Independent Study

Section

12074

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2019

Course

SOWK 5380 - Social Work in the Bdr Regn

Section

12886

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2019

Course

SOWK 3370 - Special Issues in Social Work

Section

15130

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2019

Course

SOWK 5393 - Special Issues in Social Work

Section

15135

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2019

Course

CHSC 6399 - Dissertation

Section

32802

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2019

Course

SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession

Section

31287

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2019

Course

SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk

Section

23239

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2019

Course

CHSC 6399 - Dissertation

Section

25358

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2019

Course

SOWK 5378 - Independent Study

Section

23898

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2018

Course

CHSC 6398 - Dissertation

Section

15623

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2018

Course

SOWK 5380 - Social Work in the Bdr Regn

Section

13096

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2018

Course

CHSC 6388 - Research Applications

Section

32055

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2018

Course

SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession

Section

31394

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2018

Course

SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk

Section

23492

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2018

Course

CHSC 6390 - Directed Study

Section

21699

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2018

Course

SOWK 5378 - Independent Study

Section

24206

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2024

Course

SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare

Section

11899

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2023

Course

SOWK 2310 - Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare

Section

22634

Evaluation

Term

Summer 2020

Course

SOWK 5300 - The Social Work Profession

Section

31156

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2020

Course

SOWK 5316 - Culturally Grounded Social Wk

Section

23026

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2020

Course

SOWK 5395 - International Social Work

Section

29078

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2020

Course

SOWK 3370 - Special Issues in Social Work

Section

23860

Evaluation

FACULTY PROFILES

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Mark W. Lusk

FACULTY PROFILES

Mark W. Lusk

Bio

Education

Scholarly and Creative Activity

Grants

Courses

Course Evaluations