With a very clear desire to become a social worker, Dr. Lisa Zakiya Newland earned her BSW from Morgan State University, her MSW from the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University and her PhD from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Dr. Newland’s career was cultivated in Harlem, New York, where she practiced as a clinical social worker, community liaison, program developer and mental health clinic administrator. As a product of an urban environment, Dr. Newland has an awareness of and appreciation for intervention strategies that seek to empower various populations at the personal and political levels of their lives.

Dr. Newland is currently a Full Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Social Work at Molloy University in Long Island, where she served as Faculty President from 2018-2020. The content in her courses relates to social work practice, social justice and advocacy. Her approach to teaching has enhanced students’ awareness of and response to a range of social injustices. As a strong proponent of experiential learning, Dr. Newland developed and implemented innovative ‘hands on’ social work educational opportunities in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, the NYS Legislature in Albany and Nassau County’s Department of Social Services and Juvenile Detention Center. Outside of the Department of Social Work, Dr. Newland has contributed to University-wide programming to enhance diversity and promote equity and inclusion. These experiences, in part, led to Dr. Newland being selected for the Molloy University Distinguished Service, Distinguished Faculty Awards, and the inaugural Bartolome de las Casas Award.

Dr. Newland is a NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she established an innovative business venture, Educate 2 Elevate Consultation Services. The company is a NYS Certified Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) which provides a range of clinical and consultation services, making use of Dr. Newland’s strengths as a clinician, trainer and administrator. Dr. Newland holds membership and provides leadership in professional and social justice-oriented organizations including; National Association of Black Social Workers, where she serves as President of the Nassau Suffolk Chapter, the Energeia Partnership, a regional stewardship academy affiliated with Molloy University and Nassau Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Newland led an intergenerational team and created a model for African-centered succession planning in Black organizations. As a result of this macro-level intervention, she succeeded the Founder and Elder Griot of Black Family Summit, Inc. a collective of Black-led, Black-serving organizations, operating locally, nationally and internationally and currently serves as the organization’s Convener.

Dr. Newland, a recognized thought leader in her field, is often sought for her insights and involvement with a range of program development and service delivery initiatives. Her leadership and service have been honored by several organizations including: National Association of Black Social Workers, Educator of the Year Award; STRONG Youth, Inc., Strong Educator Award; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Theta Zeta Chapter Centennial Service Award; Haitian American Families of Long Island, Community Service Award. Dr. Newland has also been recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the NYS Assemblywoman for the 18th District and the Woman of the Year in the Field of Counseling/Human Services by the National Association of Professional Women in addition to receiving several citations from local elected officials.

Dr. Newland is motivated by her Christian beliefs and Maya Angelou’s words, “Pursue the things you love doing, and do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you. All other tangible rewards will come as a result”. Dr. Newland is married to Robert Newland and is the proud Auntie-mom of Doris and Nathanael Lewis.