Gerald P. Mallon  Gerald P. Mallon is an American writer and social worker who focuses on LGBTQ family issues. He is currently the Julia Lathrop Professor of Child Welfare and Associate Dean of Scholarship and Research at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York. He is also the Director of the National Center for Child Welfare Excellence and an adoptive parent. Mallon is an internationally recognized expert on LGBT children, youth, and family issues particularly as they relate to child welfare. Through his writing, advocacy, and training efforts, he has influenced major changes in policy and practice concerning LGBTQ youth within the child welfare system. Mallon received a BSW from Dominican College in Blauvelt, New York in 1979. In 1980, he graduated from Fordham University with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Mallon received his Doctorate in social work (DSW) from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 1994. Mallon is the author of several significant books, including "We Don’t Exactly Get the Welcome Wagon: The Experience of Gay and Lesbian Youth in Child Welfare Settings" (1998), which was the first systematic investigation providing empirical data on LGBTQ youth in foster care. His more recent books and edited volumes include:  • "Let's get this straight: A gay- and lesbian- affirming approach to child welfare" (2000)  • "Gay men choosing parenthood" (2004)  • "Social Work Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People, 2nd Edition" (2008)  • "Social Work Practice with Transgender and Gender Variant Youth, 2nd Edition" (2009)  • "Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth issues: A youth worker's perspective, 2nd Edition" (2010)  • "Child Welfare for the Twenty-First Century: A Handbook of practices, policies, and programs, 2nd Edition" (co-edited with Peg McCartt Hess, 2014)  • "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Foster & Adoptive Parents: Recruiting, assessing, and supporting untapped family resources for children and youth, 2nd Edition" (2015)  • "Social Work Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People, 3rd Edition" (2017)  Mallon is the author of 24 books in total, along with over 100 articles, chapters, and papers. In March 2019, Mallon received the Ruby Leader Award from the National Association of Social Workers--New York City Chapter (NASW-NYC), recognizing an individual with more than 25 years of leadership and service experience in the social work profession.