Mary Gitau

Dr. Mary Gitau has 10 years of teaching experience mostly in social work field. Her educational preparation encompasses Education and Social Work and she teaches in the areas of social work practice with communities and organizations, social work research, diversity, domestic violence and global social work. In addition to teaching, she has keen interest in advocating for educational access, mostly for disadvantaged children, empowering vulnerable populations, community engagement, multiculturalism, and diversity. Mary earned a master’s degree in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Education both from the University of Wyoming. Her research interests are in multicultural/diversity issues; cultural competencies; community developments and disparities in educational access and global social justice issues. She is a contributing faculty in the MSW program at Walden in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Education

PhD, University of Wyoming

MSW, University of Wyoming

MS, University of Wyoming

BS, Ithaca College

AS, Tompkins County Community College

Public Service

African International Foundation for Education Excellence, Board Member -

Multicultural Family Center, Board of Directors - Dubuque

NAACP-Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute Contest, Other - Dubuque

Publications

Gitau, M. W., Mutisya, P., Weizorek, C., Kamau, C., Ngundi, J. (2017). Education system: Are we preparing students to meet current global needs and challenges?.

Gitau, M., Lu, Y., Gitau, P. (2016). Assessment of school needs for low-achieving students: Primary school teachers and administrators’ perspectives towards students’ learning in public schools in Kenya.. Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Sciences

Gitau, M., Wiezorek, C. (2016). Empowering rural primary school teachers through professional workshops in central Kenya: A holistic approach..

Presentations

Gitau, M. (2014). Applying the Socio-ecological Model to Improve Mental Health Seeking Behavior among Kenyan.

Gitau, M. W. (2017). Ecological Examination of How School-Community Relations Influence Low-Performers in Kenyan Rural Schools. Council for Social Work Education (CSWE)

Gitau, M. (2017). Beyond Free Primary Education in Kenya: Focus on Access and Quality.

Gitau, M. W., Wiezorek, C. (2017). Learning and Service Trip to Kenya with American Students: Impact on Basic Education and Literary in Kenyan rural Communities.