Dr. Marlene Matarese Covell is an Associate Research Professor at the University of Connecticut, School of Social Work. She specializes in sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as well as evidence-based intervention design and implementation science. The focus of her work has been improving access to and the quality of systems and services for children and their families with public system involvement with a primary focus on the LGBTQ+ population.

As a Fulbright Scholar hosted at the University of Galway, School of Political Science & Sociology, Social Work Programme, Marlene will be leading a research project on exploring the experiences LGBTQ+ care leavers had while in the Irish foster care system, which is the first to be conducted in Ireland. She will also review curricula to embed LGBTQ+ content throughout, and guest lecture in practice courses both in the Fall and Spring semesters on LGBTQ+ best practices.