Room 309, 3rd Floor West

The Faculty of Humanities and Education, The University of the West Indies,

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Telephone: 868-662-2002 Ext. 83037

Email: Kiara.Matthews@uwi.edu 

I consider myself a clinician-educator, where hands-on clinical practice informs my teaching and vice-versa. I am a speech-language pathologist and educator whose research is rooted in the clinical training and academic development of speech-language pathologists and allied health professionals, particularly within the cultural contexts of the Caribbean region. My work explores how regional specificity shapes professional formation, and I am committed to creating contextually relevant materials and resources for clinicians, clients, and the wider community. My academic responsibilities include student research supervision and curriculum design, with a focus on employability, public awareness, and ethical, culturally responsive practice in the health professions.

A strong advocate for student-centred learning, I strive to foster a dynamic, exploratory classroom environment that encourages students to find their own voices—whether through clinical writing, culturally relevant resource development, or academic and clinical research. In supervising final-year undergraduate theses and MA-SLP research projects, I challenge students to think critically and to produce work with practical relevance and real-world applicability. My broader academic and professional interests converge in my advocacy for underserved populations—particularly through the development of public speech-language pathology positions and the training of clinicians equipped to meet those needs.

Qualification

SLPD Northwestern University (IL, USA)
MS Boston University (MA, USA)
BS (Suma cum laude) Howard University (DC, USA)

Research Interests

Clinical Education
Culturally Responsive Clinical Skills
Student Employability
Clinical Supervision Models
Professional Advocacy
Policy Development

Featured Work

Matthews, Kiara. “Eliciting Speech Sounds for HoH and Deaf Students.” Teacher Training for Teachers of the Deaf. Student Support Services, Ministry of Education. Professional Workshop, 2025.
Matthews, Kiara. “Safe Feeding for Palliative Care: Ensuring Comfort and Dignity.” Presentation at the Palliative Care Society Workshop, 26 May 2024.
Matthews, Kiara. “Finding and Using Your Voice.” Virtual Presentation at the Global United Diaspora: Empowered Women Empower Women, 30 March 2021.
Matthews, Kiara. “Caribbean Models of SLP Education and Service Delivery.” Presentation at the American Speech Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL, USA, 21 November 2019.
Matthews, Kiara. “Awareness or A “wear”ness?”. Choice Tx, 2 April 2019.
Matthews, Kiara. “Speech-Language Pathology for Clients with Down Syndrome.” Down Syndrome Family Network Quarterly Workshop. 28 September 2015.

Courses Taught

LING2006 Speech and Hearing Science
MDSC2003 Clinical Management
SPLP6001-6004 Clinical Practica 1–4
SPLP6005 Diagnostic Methods in Speech-Language Pathology
SPLP6009 Fluency Disorders
SPLP6010 Aphasia and Related Disorders
SPLP6013 Voice and Resonance Disorders