Omar López is a teaching professor of practicum education, receiving a faculty appointment at USC in 2010. He has held a few inaugural administrative appointments since 2013, including the current one as assistant dean of recruitment and workforce development. He leads a team of faculty and staff who manage and implement workforce development initiatives funded by federal, state, local and philanthropic dollars. These programs have been awarded $33.85 million in funding from 2014 to 2026 with over $17.11 million allocated to 979 graduate students (mostly MSWs) in stipends and scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $37,000. These initiatives fund programs that offer curriculum and training that prepares students to pursue careers in integrative behavioral health, public child welfare, addictions, public mental health, geriatrics and other fields.
Professor López was principal investigator of an international project that is seeking to improve the child protection system in El Salvador and a co-investigator of two additional grant-funded projects exceeding $13 million. He has received numerous accolades for his community and professional contributions, including two distinguished faculty awards: one for achieving recognition in the scientific community while addressing solutions to important social problems and the other for excellence in teaching and outstanding service to the university, the school and the community.
He is a former undocumented immigrant from Mexico with professional experience in the field of immigration, where he has applied his expertise to a number of initiatives including a global immersion program (Pathways to Immigration) designed to increase understanding of the causes and dynamics of immigration. This course included a migratory journey in reverse from Los Angeles to San Diego, Baja California, Mexico City and Puebla City ending in Coatzingo, a migrant-sending community in central Mexico.
Professor López has been faculty advisor to the school's Latinx and International Social Work student caucuses as he continues to support all students with an emphasis on those from underrepresented communities. López previously shared responsibilities for San Diego Academic Center practicum education activities, and was the lead in the development macro placements. In addition to the Pathways to Immigration course, Professor López has also taught courses in integrative practicum education, leadership, diversity, public child welfare, a national immersion to Washington D.C. focused on child development and social policy, and several grant-funded specialized seminars. He is completed a doctorate of education in higher education administration at USC in 2022.
He is a boxing coach/instructor, certified by USA Boxing, who is also the Head Coach of the USC Trojan Boxing Club. He role models by competing as an amateur boxer under the nickname of “El Profe” in the master's division as a welterweight, light-middleweight, and middleweight (147lbs – 165 lbs). He has won several tournaments, including at the national level, with over 20 bouts. Boxing provides a platform to practice self-care while he pursues the love of teaching and supporting others to achieve personal goals. This passion has yielded other opportunities, including a leading role in a commercial for a telecommunications and wireless company.