Rate My Professor Kiera Mallett

Kiera Mallett, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is the first Director of Field Education for the Bachelor of Social Work Program and Assistant Teaching Professor in Social Work at Penn State Greater Allegheny. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015 and her Bachelor of Social Work from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2013. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Pennsylvania (license #CW023291), she brings substantial practice experience to her teaching role. Prior to her appointment at Penn State, Mallett worked as a social worker at Allegheny County Shuman Center, served as a school social worker for Pittsburgh Public Schools, and volunteered as a resiliency facilitator for the Red Cross. She currently contributes to the accreditation team for the BSW program, which began in 2022, overseeing field placements to integrate academic preparation with professional fieldwork.

Mallett's academic interests include servicing diverse groups, trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, human behavior, best practices to support youth from diverse backgrounds, mental health, and working with diverse populations, as well as Black women's access to care and the pandemic's effects on children. She advises students in internships fostering real-world application, such as those at Allegheny County Children, Youth, and Families for youth advocacy and community services connecting residents to local resources. Her professional development encompasses trainings including Mental Health Awareness and Resources (2021), Critical Conversations About Racism, Colorism, and Police Brutality: A Black Female Social Work Perspective (2020), Self Care for K-8 Educators, Pittsburgh Public Schools (2020), Pathways to Resilience (2019), and Suicide Prevention, Allegheny County (2018). Mallett's leadership has supported the program's milestones, including its first graduates, enhancing social work education and practice in the region.