Seton Hall Professor and Graduate Student Present at Yale School of Public Health

 Juan Rios, D.S.W., associate professor in the Department of Social Work at Seton Hall University, and Shayne Simmons, a graduate student in the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program, presented at the Yale School of Public Health. They spoke about the vital role of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) in fostering community empowerment and its successful application in the research and initiatives at Seton Hall University. Jeffrey Moreno, City of New Haven Project Manager for Redevelopment, joined them in a panel discussion on how participatory methods benefit social work practice, advocacy, collaboration and equity.

Rios, a tenured associate professor, founded the RIOS Research Lab at Seton Hall. A native of New Haven, Connecticut, Rios captivated the audience by sharing his journey growing up in the city. This background shaped his commitment to social justice and community engagement. His lived experiences have driven his work in social work and research, making him a powerful advocate for CBPR and its impact on marginalized communities.

Rios emphasized how CBPR involves the collaboration of local communities as equal partners in research, aligning perfectly with Seton Hall’s mission of promoting social justice, transformative learning and community engagement. Engaging communities as co-researchers enables the identification and resolution of systemic inequities that affect health and wellness, fostering a more equitable society.

“This invitation was an excellent opportunity to highlight the intersections between Community-Based Participatory Research and social work,” said Rios. "The CBPR model—where communities are co-researchers and decision-makers—reflects the liberation health approach I use in my work. It empowers marginalized populations to address systemic inequities that impact their health and well-being."

Simmons, a RIOS Lab assistant, liaison to the Buccino Leadership Institute, member of The Faculty Senate Sustainability Committee and student-athlete for the Seton Hall Swim and Dive team, also shared his CBPR-based research on the intersection of food waste and food insecurity. At Seton Hall, Simmons is working to implement sustainable food initiatives for students and the local community.

The collaborative presentation by the RIOS Lab, Buccino Institute and the M.P.A. program at Yale, highlights Seton Hall’s ongoing commitment to community-based research in emphasizing its role in promoting social justice while creating impactful changes through academic and community partnerships.

For more information, contact Shayne Simmons at (203)-241-8929.

Categories: Education