SU's Brown Places at Social Work Conference

SALISBURY, MD---A research poster by Eleanor Brown, a Salisbury University junior social work and political science major from Ijamsville, MD, recently placed second at the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors’ annual conference in Atlanta.

Her poster, “Double Jeopardy: Employment Discrimination Experienced by Returning Citizens,” focused on previously incarcerated individuals who have returned to their communities on the Lower Eastern Shore.

Brown’s research was inspired by her experience with SU’s book discussion program at Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, MD, in partnership with SU’s Social Work and Philosophy departments at the Maryland Department of Corrections.

“Through the hands-on experience I am gaining through the book groups, I began to question what are the causes of recidivism, including employment discrimination,” she said. “My research is examining the employment experiences of returning citizens, individuals with felony convictions, who have returned to their communities in Wicomico County.

“I recently secured a community partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc., which will be promoting my study to its returning citizen clientele and alumni. My goal for this research is for it to lead to policy reform within Wicomico County.”

The study serves as Brown’s undergraduate honors thesis in the SU Honors College. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Jennifer Jewell, B.A.S.W. program director.

At SU, Brown is president of the Student United Way and a past student representative for the National Association of Social Workers. She also is a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha (political science), Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership), Phi Alpha (social work), Psi Chi (psychology) and Phi Eta Sigma (freshman) honor societies.

In addition, she recently was named a national finalist for the $30,000 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. She is a recipient of the Henry H. “Buddy” Hanna Memorial Award Scholarship and Dean’s List student.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.