Dr. Vilna Tejeda is a licensed independent clinical social worker and the Co-Director of the Latinx/Hispanic Center of Excellence for Social Work Practice at Rhode Island College. As an assistant professor at the RIC School of Social Work, she builds upon over a decade of experience as a school social worker. Dr. Tejeda refined her pedagogical and supervisory acumen in previous roles as an MSW clinical supervisor at Rhode Island College and a BSW supervisor at Providence College.​ Dr. Tejeda's professional trajectory reveals a consistent commitment to social justice, demonstrated through her targeted work within the educational system, the juvenile legal system, and the broader community mental health spectrum. Her interventions, characterized by dignity, a commitment to training, and a hands-on approach, have directly impacted diverse populations in multiple environments, including school systems and healthcare institutions. These roles inform her current work leading Interprofessional Education (IPE) interventions.​ Dr. Tejeda earned her doctorate from Simmons University, her Master's from Rhode Island College School of Social Work, and two bachelor’s of arts in Psychology and Spanish Literature from the University of Rhode Island.