Mariangelly Sierra

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 Professional Counselor 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 also served as the Multicultural and Social Justice Concerns Board Trustee for SAIGE from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025. 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.

As part of her commitment to service and community engagement, Dra. Sierra serves as the faculty advisor for Comunidad: A Latinx Student Affinity Group at Walden University. She is also an active member of Red Latinoamericana de Acompañamiento en la Muerte y el Duelo, the Association for Death Education & Counseling (ADEC), and Consciencia de la Muerte Puerto Rico, where she serves as a death doula, educator, and advocate, extending her work to promote compassionate, culturally grounded approaches to death, dying, and grief.

Courses Taught

COUN 6771 - Practicum

COUN 6782 - Internship

COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling

COUN 6785 - Social Change in Action

COUN 6001 - Professional Dispositions & New Student Orientation

COUN 6100 - Introduction to Mental Health Counseling

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 -

Consciencia de la Muerte, Puerto Rico, Volunteer -

Red Latinoamericana de Acompañamiento en la Muerte y el Duelo, Member -

International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA), Member -

San Lucas Hospice & Home Care, Volunteer - Ponce

Awards / Honors

Student Organization Advisor of the Year for Comunidad: A Latinx Student Affinity Group , Walden University Student Organizations, 2025

Chapter of the Year for Comunidad: A Latinx Student Affinity Group , Walden University Student Organizations, 2025

Faculty Excellence Award Nominee, Walden University Awards, 2025

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., Ramirez, G., Diaz, R. (2025). Ni de Aqui Ni de Alla: ADDRESSING Latinx Identities. Walden University

Sierra, M., Ramirez, G. (2025). El Poder de la Comunidad: Empoderando a los Consejeres Latinx a través del Liderazgo de Afinidad. Antioch University

Sierra, M., Ramirez, G. (2025). The Power of Comunidad: Empowering Latinx Counselors Through Affinity Leadership. Antioch University

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