Leticia Marisol Barrios and the Power of Corporate Social Work

Leticia Marisol Barrios is clear about one thing: social work does not belong to one sector, one job title, or one narrowly defined role. It belongs wherever systems shape people’s lives—including corporate, legal, and policy-driven spaces that have not traditionally been seen as homes for social workers. For Leticia, that belief is more than a philosophy—it is the throughline of her education, her practicum, and her vision for the future of the profession.

An advanced-standing, nontraditional student at the Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW), Leticia has been intentional about preparing herself for work beyond traditional nonprofit or clinical settings. She is drawn to corporate and macro-level environments not because they are easier—but because they are powerful. “Social workers don’t need to be martyrs to create change,” she says. “We need to be in the rooms where decisions and resources are distributed.”

That perspective has shaped how Leticia shows up across her academic journey. Born in Guatemala and raised in Houston, her path to social work was not linear, but it was purposeful. Long before she had language for systems change or macro practice, she felt a steady pull toward advocacy, strategy, and impact. “I’ve lived many lives,” she reflects, “but the desire to make change was always there.”

At GCSW, Leticia has leaned fully into that calling—especially through her practicum at BakerRipley Citizenship and Immigration Services. Working in a legal setting alongside attorneys and Department of Justice–accredited representatives, she brings a trauma‑informed, person‑in‑environment lens to immigration advocacy. While the work is rooted in law, Leticia sees social work as essential to restoring humanity in a space that can easily become procedural.

“People aren’t just paperwork,” she says. “They are sharing some of the most vulnerable parts of their lives.” Through her practicum, she has helped train legal professionals in trauma‑informed interviewing and supported both clients and staff navigating the emotional toll of the work. Her presence reinforces something she believes deeply: social workers don’t replace other professionals—they expand what is possible.

Her time at GCSW has repeatedly affirmed the value of that lens. Even as a macro student, Leticia has drawn on her training to support clients experiencing acute anxiety, calmly holding space when others felt overwhelmed. She has also exercised her advocacy skills by launching a resource‑focused initiative that connects individuals directly to trusted immigration legal services—reducing barriers, confusion, and fear.

Just as formative as the work itself has been the community she has found within her cohort. Leticia speaks openly about the importance of peer connection, especially as an advanced‑standing student moving through the program at an accelerated pace. Her cohort—affectionately known as the “Macro Mommies,”—has been a source of support, humor, and shared understanding. That sense of connection deepened during a university‑sponsored trip to Washington, D.C., where she saw policy in action and met social workers working beyond direct practice. “It made everything we learn feel real,” she says.

Looking ahead, Leticia is unapologetic about her goals. She is drawn to corporate and international social work—spaces that are still considered unconventional within the profession. Her interest is rooted in both values and sustainability. “Social workers don’t need to be martyrs to create change,” she says. She believes corporate social work offers an opportunity to influence workplace well‑being, corporate responsibility, and funding decisions—areas that affect millions of lives. Being on the side of distributing resources rather than asking for them, she argues, is both powerful and long overdue.

That belief informs the advice she offers future social workers: know your worth, expand your idea of what’s possible, and don’t be afraid to claim space in places you don’t traditionally see yourself. “The social work doesn’t live in your job title,” she says. “It lives in you.”

When she reflects on the people who have shaped her journey, Leticia names both individuals and communities. Friends Obi and Jen, who introduced her to social work as a profession and helped her imagine a future she hadn’t yet seen for herself. But her greatest inspiration comes from the communities she has worked alongside—particularly Indigenous artisans in Mexico and Guatemala during her earlier work. “People don’t need to be saved,” she says. “They are resilient, capable, and powerful. With resources, people uplift themselves.