Lena Lambert is an Assistant Professor, Field Director, and Chair of the Department of Social Work at West Virginia State University. She received her Master’s in Social Work through a collaborative program with West Virginia University and West Virginia State University and her Bachelor’s in Social Work at West Virginia State University. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2025.
Ms. Lambert is a licensed graduate social worker in West Virginia. Her professional experience began in macro social work, a focus that grew after she received the Judith A. Herndon Fellowship with the West Virginia Legislature. Before joining the West Virginia State University faculty, she was the Title IV-E Coordinator for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Division of Training. She holds a certificate in Effective College Instruction through the Association of College and University Educators and the American Council on Education. Ms. Lambert also serves as the faculty advisor for the Epsilon Zeta Eta Chapter of Phi Alpha Honor Society.
Ms. Lambert’s research interests include Appalachian culture, rural social work, environmental justice, and self-care. Her capstone project, “Self-Care in the Helping Disciplines: How Universities Can Better Prepare Students,” demonstrates her commitment to creating sustainable self-care practices for students and to the future of social work education. Her research provides a conceptual framework for self-care modules, allowing students to implement self-care practices during field placements under the supervision of faculty and field site supervisors.