Dr. Flores teaches with the belief that research is never neutral and that knowledge becomes transformative when rooted in justice. In her doctoral-level courses on social work research, she invites students to think critically and expansively — about methodology, ethics, and the power structures that shape both. She teaches students to engage deeply with evidence while also asking: Whose knowledge is represented? Whose voices are missing? What does it mean to be accountable to the communities we study?

Her classroom is a dynamic and reflexive space where:

• Quantitative rigor meets qualitative nuance

• Lived experience is treated as essential evidence

• Students are encouraged to be both critical and creative thinkers

She brings warmth and intentionality to her mentorship, offering not just guidance on research design or analysis, but also compassion and care for the full person navigating academia. She supports students through independent studies, positionality work, dissertation design, and the emotional labor of graduate school — especially those from historically excluded communities. Her pedagogy weaves intellectual rigor with relational accountability, always aiming to cultivate scholars who will carry forward the work of transformation.