Research Analyst
UCLA
Los Angeles, California, United States
Brenda completed a PHD in Social Welfare at UCLA in September 2022. Previously, she earned a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University in New York City where she practiced as a licensed clinical social worker for 20 years. While working at Good Shepherd Services, Brenda helped launch the Chelsea Foyer, a transitional, supportive housing program for young people aging out of foster care and experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Brenda’s research examines how social and economic capital influence housing security during the transition to adulthood. She focuses on the formal and informal housing that youth who are unhoused and young adults exiting foster care navigate, and the ecological conditions that frame their housing options. Recognizing the racialization of housing and overrepresentation of Black and Brown youth in homeless services and child welfare systems in the United States, Brenda incorporates a racial equity lens in her research. Building on findings from her earlier qualitative work, Brenda's dissertation used Midwest Study data to examine how participants’ race/ethnicity, family relationships, and economic measures were associated with housing trajectories and eviction. The study found that economic hardship increased eviction risk and living in subsidized housing improved housing security.
In teaching, Brenda draws from experiences as a clinical social worker, MSW student field supervisor, and researcher to ground course content in real world examples. She works with students, both undergraduate and graduate, to connect coursework with their own life experiences and field learning to enhance their integration of knowledge.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Saturday, November 12, 2022
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM