Mary Nedela, PhD, LMFT
Mary Nedela, PhD, LMFT, is an accomplished Assistant Professor at Central Connecticut State University, where she has served since 2020. With a deep commitment to advancing the field of marriage and family therapy, her work spans teaching, research, and clinical practice. She brings extensive experience shaped by years of academic training, mentorship, and hands-on therapeutic work. Mary’s research interests and professional contributions reflect her dedication to supporting individuals, families, and communities through evidence-based therapeutic models and innovative teaching approaches.
Before joining CCSU, Mary served as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at Virginia Tech, where she earned her PhD in Human Development with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her earlier professional roles—including adolescent advising, home-based therapy, and program outcomes coordination—gave her a strong foundation in supporting youth and families in diverse settings. These experiences also informed her contributions to peer-reviewed publications, including work on structural family therapy and creative interventions in mental health.
As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Mary is committed to ongoing learning, clinical excellence, and the development of future therapists. Her work continues to reflect her passion for empowering students, promoting inclusive therapeutic practices, and advancing the mental health field through research, practice, and mentorship.
• Clinical Fellow
• LGBT Affirmative Psychotherapist
LGBT Affirmative Psychotherapist
• AAMFT Approved Supervisor
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Purdue University Northwest- Master's
• Central Michigan University- B.S.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the mentors who guided me throughout my master’s and doctoral training, as well as the profound learning that has come from working closely with clients, students, and emerging therapists. Their influence, combined with my commitment to relational healing, advocacy, and building inclusive spaces, has shaped the educator and clinician I am today.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to care deeply about the people I serve while maintaining boundaries that protect my own well-being—compassion is most sustainable when it’s balanced with self-preservation. I was also taught to follow mentors who genuinely invest in me, advocate for myself even when it feels uncomfortable, and remember that some of the most valuable learning comes directly from clients and lived experience, not just textbooks.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is the growing mismatch between responsibilities and resources—higher education continues to add new demands while funding, DEI support, and professional stability shrink. At the same time, there is an opportunity to advocate for more sustainable workloads, clearer policies, and healthier boundaries in helping professions, ensuring that both educators and students can thrive despite systemic pressures.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I’m grounded in relational integrity, inclusivity, and the belief that authentic connection can be deeply healing. In both my clinical and academic work, I strive to create affirming spaces—especially for queer and trans individuals—while modeling empathy, balance, and ethical leadership through trauma-informed, culturally responsive practice.