Professor Conducts Social Research

By Jacqueline Escobar

Staff Writer

Professor Jennifer Rogers-Brown, associate professor of sociology in the department of social sciences has conducted research regarding advocating for women’s rights and the rights of migrant workers.

“My current work around justice for migrant workers stems from my long-time research in Mexico on the impacts of free trade policy on rural corn farmers,” Brown said. “I’ve seen how policies around food and agriculture, as well as immigration policy, have resulted in divided families and global inequality,” Brown said.

Brown received her BA from UC Irvine, and her PHD in sociology, with a doctoral emphasis in women’s studies, from UC Santa Barbra. She is the president of the Board of Directors for Rural and Ministry (RMM), a nonprofit organization in NY State. “I love working with this organization because they work directly with farm workers and rural workers, focus on empowering new community leaders, and prioritize the need to change unjust systems like racist labor laws and oppressive immigration policies,” Brown said.

Brown is a part of the LIU Post Center for Sustainability and is passionate about protecting others and the environment. “I consider myself an anti-racist, feminist, environmental sociologist, she said. “Environmental racism
and structural inequalities must be addressed in order to have a sustainable future.”

Brown is working on several projects in her field such as supporting the Farm Workers Campaign and holding a town hall on campus for NYS farmworkers. She also is a lead representative for the Sociologists for Women in Society and holds events geared towards issues impacting women and girls. “We are showing the documentary ‘Red Light Green Light,’ which is about human trafficking, and afterwards we will have a panel of local activists and academics to talk about their work on the Suffolk County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force,” Brown said.

Brown has opinions regarding migrant workers, immigrants, and minorities and how they should handle life inside and out of school.

“RMM is a non-profit organization in NY State. This organization advocates for rural and migrant families, workers, and youth throughout the state,” she said. “I love working with this organization because they work directly with farmworkers and rural workers, focus on empowering new community leaders, and prioritize the need to change unjust systems such as racist labor laws and oppressive immigration policies.”

“I encourage students to take advantage of being at a university,” Brown said as advice to students. “Join a student organization that has social justice as part of its mission. They may have more years of experience and can provide support in ways you may not expect,” she said.