Celeste Malone | Howard Profiles

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Faculty

Celeste Malone, PhD, MS ( she/her)

Associate Professor of School Psychology

celeste.malone@Howard.edu

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Department/Office

Human Development & Psychoeducational Studies

School/College

School of Education
Graduate School

Biography

Celeste M. Malone, Ph.D., M.S., is an associate professor and coordinator of the school psychology program at Howard University. She received her PhD in school psychology from Temple University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in child clinical and pediatric psychology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Before obtaining her doctorate, Dr. Malone received her master’s degree in school counseling from Johns Hopkins University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brown University.

Malone’s upbringing in Harlem, NY, has made her passionate about addressing issues of educational equity and preparing school psychologists to serve diverse populations. Her primary research interest relates to multicultural issues embedded in the training and practice of school psychology. Specifically, Malone focuses on multicultural competence, the ability to work effectively with diverse populations by applying cultural knowledge and demonstrating awareness of and sensitivity to cultural issues. The overarching themes of her research are (a) the development of multicultural competence through education and training, (b) the diversification of the profession of school psychology, and (c) the relationship between culturally responsive practice and pre-K–12 student outcomes. Through her consultative and professional development work, Dr. Malone bridges the research–practice gap and disseminates her research to state departments of education, university academic departments, school districts, and local schools.

Leadership has always been a part of Malone’s school psychology career, helping her develop the skills to be an effective change agent. Since graduate school, she has consistently held leadership positions in national psychology professional associations, including the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), as well as state-level professional associations. Malone previously served as an elected member of the APA Board of Educational Affairs, the governance group that develops policies for education and training in psychology. Within NASP, she served as a student leader for her graduate program, a member of the 2012 Convention Committee, co-chair of the Leadership Development Committee, and a strategic liaison on the Board of Directors. These experiences culminated in Malone’s election as 2022–2023 NASP President, where, notably, she became the second person of color to serve in this role.

Malone's leadership and dedication to social justice in psychology have not gone unnoticed. She has been recognized with presidential honors from NASP, the Maryland School Psychologists’ Association, and APA Division 16 School Psychology. In addition to her professional role, Dr. Malone is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and served as a regional co-chair of one of the sorority’s leadership development programs.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

School Psychology
Temple University
2012

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

School Psychology
Temple University
2009

Master of Science (M.S.)

Counseling
Johns Hopkins University
2008

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Psychology
Brown University
2004

Academics

HUDE 333 - Practicum in School Psychology

HUDE 222 - Introduction to School Psychology

HUDE 517 - RtI and the Prevention of Academic Problems

HUDE 309 - Legal and Ethical Issues in School Psychology

Research

Specialty

Multicultural and diversity issues embedded in the training and practice of school psychology; Multicultural competence in school psychology; Diversification of the school psychology profession; Microaggressions and PK-12 student outcomes

Funding

Principal Investigator. An Oral History of School Psychology Leaders of Color, 1969-1989. American Psychological Association Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention, and Training, 2025-2026, $7,354 – Funded.

Principal Investigator. Collaborative for Urban School Psychology. United States Department of Education, 2025-2030, $1,162,843 – Unfunded.

Co-Principal Investigator. Black Research Support Network: Studying Change By, With, and For Black Undergraduate Computer Science and Faculty at Three Institutions. (PI: Gloria Washington, Howard University). National Science Foundation, 2022-2025, $521,763 – Funded.

Co-Principal Investigator. Howard University Teacher Residency Program. (PI: Kenneth Anderson, Howard University). United States Department of Education, 2019-2024, $984,704 – Funded.

Project Lead. School Psychologists as Leaders in Trauma Aware Schools: Building Capacity and Skills. Maryland School Psychologists’ Association Professional Development Grant, 2015-2016, $800 – Funded.

Group Information

The Multicultural School Psychology Research Group (MSPRG), led by Dr. Celeste Malone, addresses multicultural and diversity issues embedded in the training and practice of school psychology. Specifically, the group’s research focuses on multicultural competence, the ability to work effectively with diverse populations through the application of cultural knowledge and to demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to cultural issues. Our overarching research questions are:

What are the multicultural competencies needed for school psychologists to effectively serve diverse populations (i.e., students, teachers, families)?
How do school psychologists develop multicultural competence through graduate training and professional development?
What is the relationship between school psychologists’ multicultural competence, their clinical practices, and K-12 student outcomes?

The group also conducts research to refine and further develop the School Psychology Multicultural Competence Scale (SPMCS; Malone, 2012; Malone et al., 2016), the only published measure to date that assesses multicultural competence in all domains of school psychology practice. Additionally, Dr. Malone is interested in school mental health and school climate. Current and future projects include the following:

Factors in faculty recruitment/retention of racial and ethnic minority individuals
Multicultural supervision in school psychology
Survey of multicultural and diversity training in school psychology graduate programs
Relationship between microaggressions and perceptions of school climate
Satisfaction with multicultural training and self-reported multicultural competence
Preservice teachers’ knowledge of children’s mental health concerns

Accomplishments

2024 Outstanding Article of the Year, School Psychology Review (2025)

Malone, C. M. (2024). Moving School Psychology Beyond the Clouds of Injustice: A Blue Sky Discussion. School Psychology Review, 53(3), 324-340. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2372966X.2024.2330111

Jean Baker Mid-Career Service Award, APA Division 15 School Psychology (2024)

Gallery of Success, Temple University (2024)

Presidential Citation for Outstanding Contributions to School Psychology, APA Division 16 School Psychology (2020)

Presidential Award for Exemplary Service to Children and School Psychology, National Association of School Psychologists (2019)

Early Career Achievement Award, American Psychological Association (2018)

President's Award for Outstanding Contributions, Maryland School Psychologist's Association (2018)

Featured News

Read: Bloomberg Law | Covid-Battered Schools Starved for Counselors to Aid Students

Read: NPR | Few Black Men Become School Psychologists: Here’s Why That Matters

Listen: School Psyched Podcast | School Psychology as a Healing Profession

Listen: Healing Centered Conversations Podcast | Episode 19: Madame President Dr. Celeste Malone

Read: The St. Louis American | Black men are missing from school psychology. That matters

Read: Atlanta Daily World | Why We Need More Black Psychologists in Schools

Publications and Presentations

Moving School Psychology Beyond the Clouds of Injustice

Moving School Psychology Beyond the Clouds of Injustice: A Blue Sky Discussion.

This paper based on the opening address for the 2023–2024 School Psychology Futures Conference, reflects on contemporary inequities in school psychology practice, research, and graduate education. Challenges as the profession reckons with its oppressive past are highlighted. Drawing on concepts from liberation psychology, critical school psychology, and the psychology of radical healing, the author presents a vision for school psychology’s reimagined future with steps that can be executed across all levels (e.g., practice, research, graduate education, advocacy and leadership). In order to imagine a new future for school psychology, we must not repeat the mistakes of our past and instead demonstrate cultural humility, center marginalized communities, and embrace anti-oppressive and liberatory approaches. This will allow school psychology to meet its potential and become a profession that effectively serves ALL children and youth.

Correlates of Social Justice Values in School Psychology Graduate Students

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which personal characteristics and multicultural competence are associated with social justice values in school psychology graduate students. A sample of 108 graduate students completed the Social Justice Scale, School Psychology Multicultural Competence Scale, and Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Participants strongly endorsed having social justice values; however, they were less likely to report being in a context supportive of social justice work.

Characteristics of school psychology faculty in 2021

The purpose of this study was to collect information on the demographic characteristics of school psychology faculty as of 2021. A total of 429 school psychology trainers completed a brief web-based survey in which they self-identified their employment characteristics, gender identity, sexual orientation, racial–ethnic identity, (dis)ability status, and languages spoken. At the time of the survey, most of the sample were employed as full professors (30.5%) or assistant professors (29.4%). Results demonstrated that majority of the sample identified as white (78.6%), cisgender female (66.2%), heterosexual (87.2%), non(dis)abled (95.1%), and monolingual English speaking (83.9%). Faculty of color were more likely to report a higher percentage of time spent teaching as compared to white faculty. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.

Applying a MTSS Framework to Address Racism and Promote Mental Health for Racial/Ethnic Minoritized Youth (2021)

Applying a MTSS framework to address racism and promote mental health for racial/ethnic minoritized youth

Ample evidence suggests that PK-12 students experience racism and other forms of discrimination in school and that these experiences have a deleterious impact on their mental health. Several studies have shown a consistent and strong relationship between racism and negative mental health outcomes including increased depression and anxiety, decreased self-worth and self-esteem, as well as psychological maladjustment. School-based mental health services can ensure that racial and ethnic minoritized (REM) students gain access to mental health services. Because schools are one place where REM students experience structural and individual discrimination, it is critical that school-based mental health providers utilize strategies to promote school climates that are safe and affirming for these students. Using a multitiered system of support framework, we describe the tier 1 interventions to promote positive school racial climate and the elements of culturally responsive practices to be integrated into tier 2 and tier 3 interventions to improve mental health outcomes for REM youth.

A Call to Action for School Psychology to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities and Advance Social Justice

The health, economic, and social challenges associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present a range of threats to students’ well-being, psychoeducational experiences, and outcomes, spurring fears for a “lost generation.” In this article, we present COVID-19 as a large-scale multisystemic disaster causing massive disruptions and losses, with adversities moderated by the intersectional nature of systemic inequity. We first synthesize the broad effects of COVID-19 as they relate to equity and social justice, followed by the major implications for students and schools, with a focus on intersectional systemic issues. We then propose foundational considerations and resources intended to usher a paradigm shift in how school psychologists’ roles and activities are conceptualized in the years to come, ending with key imperatives for practice and graduate education in school psychology.

A Snapshot of Multicultural Training in School Psychology (2020)

A snapshot of multicultural training in school psychology. Psychology in the Schools

The purpose of this study was to update Rogers et al.'s study on multicultural training by examining the extent to which school psychology programs use multicultural training recommendations noted in the literature. Thirty‐eight school psychology program coordinators completed the Multicultural Environmental Inventory‐Revised (MEI) to assess their perceptions of their program's multicultural environment. Participants were also asked about their training in multicultural and diversity issues and how their program conducts multicultural training. Findings suggest that programs most frequently used the integration and separate course models for multicultural training along with clinical experiences serving diverse students.

Development and Initial Examination of the School Psychology Multicultural Competence Scale (2016)

Development and Initial Examination of the School Psychology Multicultural Competence Scale

This study reports on the initial development and examination of the School Psychology Multicultural Competence Scale (SPMCS), a 45-item self-report measure for evaluating school psychologists’ multicultural competence in the primary domains of school psychology practice (i.e., assessment, consultation, intervention). A sample of 312 school psychology graduate students was recruited by outreach to school psychology training programs and email listservs to complete the SPMCS and a questionnaire about previous multicultural/diversity coursework and practicum with culturally and linguistically diverse clients.