Dr. Kiara Matthews
Lecturer, Linguistics and Speech-Language Pathology
Room 309, 3rd Floor West
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@sta.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
