Mariangelly Sierra

Core Faculty
College of Social and Behavioral Health
School of Counseling
M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Dra. Mariangelly Sierra (She/They/Ella) is a Core Faculty member of Walden University’s School of Counseling. Dra. Sierra possesses experience teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. She is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in private practice. Her current clinical focus is on supporting the Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities. In the past, she has worked with non-US citizens on the Texas-Mexico border and refugee families survivors of trauma from countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Dra. Sierra is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, & Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE), and the Association of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness (ACSSW). She serves as a Multicultural and Social Justice Concerns Board Trustee for SAIGE. Her research and presentation interests include multicultural competence in counseling and counselor education and supervision, social justice, and advocacy related to Latinx, LGBTQIA+, and other minoritized populations.

When she is not teaching, mentoring, or supporting clients, she enjoys creating art and being out in nature in the company of her child.

Courses Taught

COUN 6782 - Internship

COUN 6771 - Practicum

COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling

COUN 6100 - Introduction to Mental Health Counseling

COUN 6001 - Professional Dispositions & New Student Orientation

GRSP 6100 - Group Lab

SOCW 9000 - Dissertation

Education

PhD, Walden University

MS, Walden University

MA, Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico

BA, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus

Public Service

Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities, Board Member -

Publications

Sierra, M. (2024). Chapter 3: Understanding Minoritized Students’ Experiences in Counseling Programs: Practical Implications for Counselor Educators and Supervisors.

Sierra, M. (2022). Becoming a Culturally Responsive Counseling Professional. Walden University School of Lifelong Learning

Sierra, M., Gess, J. M. (2021). Chapter 20.4: Cultural Considerations in Treatment, Case of Ismat. . Casebook for DSM5: Diagnosis and treatment planning (2nd Ed.)

Gess, J. M., Sierra, M. (2021). Chapter 20.3: Cultural Considerations in Treatment, Case of Amy. . Casebook for DSM5: Diagnosis and treatment planning (2nd Ed.)

Sierra, M. (2019). Increasing your Cultural Sensitivity. The Savvy Student

Presentations

Sierra, M., Powell, J. (2025). En comunidad: Conversations about the Latinx student experience. Walden University

Sierra, M., Jenkins, C. D., Bell, T., McKinney, R. (2023). Inclusive Representation in Leadership: A Call to Action. ACA

Sierra, M. (2022). Competencias Multiculturales como Ejercicio de Justicia Social.. Asociacion Puertorriqueña de Consejeria Profesional

Banerjee, S. K., Szirony, G., Sierra, M. (2022). Theoretical and Empirical Connections Between Physical and Mental Health Among US adults in a Pandemic Era. Walden University

Sierra, M. (2021). Estrategias para Desarrollar Nuestra Receptividad Cultural como Consejeres Profesionales. Asociacion Puertorriqueña de Consejeria Profesional

Sierra, M., Gess, J. M. (2021). Strategies for Becoming Culturally Responsive Counseling Professionals. Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development

Sierra, M. (2020). Strategies for Becoming Culturally Sensitive Counselors. Walden University

Sierra, M., Gess, J. M. (2019). The Role of Multicultural Competence in Generating Collaborative Social Change Efforts. Walden University

Sierra, M. (2019). Multicultural Panel. Walden University