About the Lecturer 1
Coya’s mantra is "work collectively for the good of all people," which reflects her commitment to collaboration, unity, and a focus on collective well-being rather than individual success or selfish interests. This mindset has guided her decisions throughout both her personal and professional endeavors.
Coya has over 12 years of experience as a trained secondary classroom teacher before she joined the University of Guyana just over four years ago. There, she serves as a lecturer in the Department of Social Work. She is a qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England. Additionally, Coya is a trained teacher in English Language with a minor specialization in special educational needs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Guyana and a master’s degree in social work from Coventry University.
Although Coya is primarily a Social Work educator, she remains closely connected to the practice environment through volunteerism and supervising students completing fieldwork. She also organizes conferences and other activities that focus on education and personal empowerment for often marginalized groups. Furthermore, she is interested in creating a bridge between religion and social work.
Coya’s research interests span several areas: well-being, mental health, spirituality, violence, creative methods, and trauma-informed practice at the grassroots/community level. Her current research focuses on exploring the potential use and benefits of land-based approaches to support the well-being of incarcerated women who have experienced violence.