Board of Council

Yesika S. Montoya, LCSW-R, is the Director of Advising at Columbia University School of Social Work (CSSW).

Ms. Montoya is also an adjunct faculty teaching the Professional Immersion Seminar for international students at CSSW. The class supports students to adapt to academic study and field education in the USA, recognizing cultural differences and similarities.

In her previous work experience, Ms. Montoya provided individual, family, and group psychotherapy. In her practice, she addressed the interaction of mental illness, cultural beliefs, socio-economic conditions, and immigration status (where applicable) and used an anti-oppression practice. She has experience working with different populations (children, adolescents, adults, homeless SPMI, MICA, HIV).

Ms. Montoya has worked at the Mount Sinai Medical Center’s World Trade Center Program, with people who participated in the rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. This experience allowed her to develop additional expertise on trauma.

Ms. Montoya is a psychologist in her native country of Colombia, with a degree from the Universidad Santo Tomas. She earned a Masters in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in clinical practice from Fordham University.