Latoya Small

Latoya Small is an Assistant Professor of Social Welfare Education at the Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her work bridges clinical social work practice and community-based research, focusing on health disparities in vulnerable populations. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from New York University and an MSW from the University of Southern California.

• Education:
• Ph.D. in Social Work, New York University
• MSW, University of Southern California

Her research emphasizes the intersection of mental health, treatment adherence, and HIV among women and children in the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa. Key areas include poverty-related stress, parenting, and discrimination facing transgender women of color. She advocates for collaborative, interdisciplinary interventions to address global health challenges, particularly in South Africa where she studies youth living with perinatally acquired HIV.

Dr. Small’s approach prioritizes accessible, evidence-based solutions to bolster youth development and women’s health. She emphasizes breaking traditional disciplinary boundaries to create sustainable interventions.