Lissette Piedra

Lissette Piedra is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with affiliations in Latina/Latino Studies, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), and Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity. Her work bridges social work practice with immigrant health equity.

• BA in Psychology, Syracuse University (1992)
• MSW, Loyola University (1997)
• PhD in Social Work, University of Chicago (2006)

Her research examines how linguistic and cultural incongruence create barriers to mental health and social services for Latino immigrants. She specializes in adapting interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for new-growth Hispanic communities, exemplified by her Vida Alegre program for maternal depression. Her recent work explores social network dynamics and cognitive assessment disparities among older Hispanic adults.

Key themes in her publications include:

• Gerontology and aging populations
• Cognitive testing and cultural validity
• Language access in healthcare
• Community-based participatory research
• Health equity for marginalized groups
• Curriculum development in social work

In her affiliations, she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects addressing immigrant integration, positive aging, and global gender equity. Her work emphasizes partnerships between universities and communities to address systemic disparities.