معرفی
Dr. Kenneth Smythe-Leistico serves as Associate Professor and Director of Field Education for the Master of Social Work (MSW) program within the Department of Social Work at Carlow University's College of Arts & Sciences. He actively develops community-focused interventions to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations through interdisciplinary collaboration.
His educational background includes:
- EdD, Administrative and Policy Studies, University of Pittsburgh
- MSW, Mental Health, The University of Alabama
- BA, double major, Psychology and Sociology, The University of Wisconsin at Whitewater
Research centers on parent-family-community engagement, school attendance initiatives, non-profit communication strategies, and higher education pathways for foster care/homeless youth. His trademarked “Ready Freddy” kindergarten transition framework was recognized by National Head Start as a “Promising Practice” for integrating decision-making science with community implementation.
Publications from 2010-2019 reveal consistent focus on leveraging technology for educational equity, with recurring themes of chronic absenteeism reduction, racial identity development in early education, and community-based program implementation. His work demonstrates applied scholarship connecting communication theory to real-world student support systems.
Notable recognitions include:
- United Way Be There Attendance Champion (2015)
- Pittsburgh Magazine/PUMP 40 under 40 (2013)
- Harvard Emerging Leader FINE Profile (2012)
- Dr. Edward Moseley Hispanic/Latino Advocate of the Year (2006)
Current grant leadership encompasses:
- $2.4M HRSA-funded CURE-II program (2025-2029) training behavioral health professionals for underserved rural/urban Pennsylvania communities
- $300K Carlow Community Scholars Program (2023-2025) providing wrap-around support for foster care/homeless youth at Carlow
- $4.9M U.S. Department of Education grant (2023-2028) expanding school mental health services through MSW/counseling student placements
He directs Carlow's Strength-Based Mental Health grant that established the School Social Work specialization and previously served as Assistant Director of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development.
