Natalie Muñoz

Dra. Natalie Muñoz is a proud AfroLatina and Assistant Professor of Social Work at Rutgers University–Newark. She earned her Ph.D. in Social Work from Howard University in 2023. For over 15 years, Dra. Muñoz has been a passionate advocate for underserved college students, designing and leading mentorship programs that empower Black and Latine students to thrive in academic spaces that were not built with them in mind. Her research centers AfroLatine racial and ethnic identity, mental health, and educational inequities, with a deep commitment to honoring cultural resilience and collective healing. In 2024, she launched Azúcar TV, a YouTube channel dedicated to celebrating the beauty and richness of AfroLatine culture, history, and healing traditions. Inspired by the legendary Celia Cruz, Azúcar serves as a joyful and defiant tribute to Blackness in all its forms — uplifting AfroLatine, Latine, and Black communities through storytelling. Dra. Muñoz was recently honored as the Dr. Cheryl Wall Fellow for her contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Rutgers–Newark. Outside of academia, she finds joy in spending time with her abuelos and familia, cooking up a warm sancocho, and dancing bachata like no one’s watching.

Publications:

• Burmicky, J. , Duran ,A., and Muñoz, N. (2024). Latinx/a/o Senior Leaders in U.S Higher Education: A Systematic Review of the Literature. AERA Open. https://doi.org/10.3886/E198568V1

• Genao, S., Muñoz, N., Philippe, D., Rodríguez, C., and Sankofa, S.D.. “We Gotta Have It: Black and Brown Ideologies on Solidarity,” Multicultural Learning and Teaching

• Burmicky, J., Rzucidlo, K. Muñoz, N., Servance, W., and Thornton, M.R. “Mattering and Belonging: An HBCU Case Study Exploration of Campus Involvement during the Pandemic,” Journal of Negro Education

Media Appearances/Speaking Engagements:

• “Keynote Speaker” Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, New Jersey City University

• “Cultivating Joy: Self-care for Diverse Teams” Mars Incorporated

• “Inclusive Classroom Language & Supporting Today’s Students”, Faculty Training, Educational Opportunity Fund Summer Institute, Nursing School-Rutgers University-Newark

Previous Organizations: 

• Collaborations with Honors Living Learning Community

• Collaborations with La Casa de Don Pedro

• Collaborations with Africana Studies

Accomplishments:

• Collective Liberation - Exhibition Organizer & Curator Express Newark, Rutgers University Led undergraduate students in the Issues in Social Work course (Spring 2025) in conceptualizing and producing an interactive exhibition on themes of social justice, love, authenticity, knowledge of self, and collectivism. Collaborated with the Social Work Department, Honors Living-Learning Community, and Africana Studies.

• Cheryl Wall Faculty Fellow, Rutgers University

• Cultural Programming Grant, Dean of Students Office, Rutgers University

Upcoming Projects:

• Muñoz, N. (2024). ¡El HBCU tiene Tumbao! Fostering AfroLatino (a,e,x) Identity and Mental Health: Insights for Social Work Education. Journal of Social Work Education. Manuscript under review.

• Muñoz, N. Host, Azucar_TV. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@Azucar_TV

• Reclaiming Diasporic Wellness-Anti-Racist Social Work Education Research Project

My work amplifies Afro-Latine voices, challenges systemic inequities in mental health, immigration, and education, and creates spaces for healing and belonging through research, teaching, and storytelling.