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Reinaldo Rojas, Ph.D., M.S.W.Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Social WorkCentral Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, ConnecticutPhone: (860) 832-3143Cell: (860) 916-7239E-mail: Reinaldo.rojas@ccsu.eduEDUCATIONDoctorate of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.)University of Connecticut - School of Social WorkWest Hartford, CT.Awarded: August 2015Dissertation: Community Development and Its Socioeconomic Impact on a Latino Enclave: ACase Study of the Frog Hollow Neighborhood in Hartford, ConnecticutMasters of Social Work (M.S.W.)University of Connecticut - School of Social WorkWest Hartford, CT.Major: Community OrganizingMinor: ResearchTwo Focus Area of Study Certificates: Urban Studies and Puerto Rican/Latino StudiesAwarded: May 2002Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (B.A.)University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez CampusMayagüez, Puerto Rico.Awarded: May 1995TEACHING EXPERIENCE2017 -Assistant Professor / Adjunct Faculty (Undergraduate).Central Connecticut State University, Department of Social Work Writing for the Social Work Profession Human Behavior in the Social Environment II Introduction to Social Work Research Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations Social Welfare Policy Analysis II

2014 - 2017Visiting Assistant Professor / Visiting Lecturer / Coordinator UrbanSemester (Undergraduate).University of Connecticut, Urban and Community Studies Program Social Welfare and Social Work Community Organizing Introduction to Urban and Community Studies Field Seminar in Urban Problems Qualitative Methods in Urban and Community Studies Analysis of Urban Problems Knowing Your Community2015 - 2017Adjunct Faculty (Graduate - Summer Session only).Smith College, School of Social Work Agency and Community Practice Community Practice Experience (Field Advisor)2015Adjunct Faculty (Undergraduate). Fall SemesterCentral Connecticut State University, Latino Studies Program Introduction to Latino and Puerto Rican Studies2010 – 2014Adjunct Faculty (Graduate) / Graduate Assistantship.University of Connecticut, School of Social Work. Foundations of Macro Practice Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Research I Foundations of Macro Theories Human Oppression2006 - 2014Adjunct Faculty (Undergraduate).University of Connecticut, Urban and Community Studies Program. Social Welfare & Social Work Knowing Your Community Introduction to Urban and Community Studies Seminar on Urban Problems2004- 2006Adjunct Faculty (Undergraduate).Capital Community College, Hartford, CT Introduction to Sociology Introduction to Social Welfare

ACADEMIC RESEARCH EXPERIENCEResiliency and coping among Puerto Rican families displaced by hurricane Maria (20182019) Central Connecticut State University, Community Engagement Grant. Reinaldo Rojas,Principal InvestigatorDetails and responsibilities: This study explores how a Community Based Participatory Research(CBPR) process may enhance displaced residents levels of resiliency and adaptation. This studytakes place in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, which received several families displaced byHurricane Maria. This project attempts to research the adaptation and relocation process of thesefamilies, while empowering them in the long-term process of starting over in a new place,increasing their levels of advocacy, resiliency and adaptability. As principal researcher, I am incharge of recruiting participants, training and facilitating the CBPR training, as assisting in thedata collection and analysis process.Community Development and Its Socioeconomic Impact on a Latino Enclave: A CaseStudy of the Frog Hollow Neighborhood in Hartford, Connecticut (2015) - University ofConnecticut, School of Social Work, Doctoral Dissertation. Reinaldo Rojas, PrincipalInvestigator.Details and responsibilities: The study analyzed the impact of urban revitalization projects in theFrog Hollow neighborhood, an impoverished but vibrant Latino enclave in the city of Hartford,Connecticut. The study focused on three areas: identifying the history, goals, strategies, andtactics behind the community economic development model used in this urban revitalizationproject; examining the impact of the revitalization project on the socioeconomic conditions ofthe neighborhood and its residents; and determining how being an impoverished PuertoRican/Latino enclave impacted the design, process, and implementation of the communitydevelopment project. As principal researcher, I was in charge of collecting and analyzingarchival data, census data, and interviews with key stakeholders. The study contributed to thesocial work literature around best practices of community development.The Role of the Father in Puerto Rican Families (2013) – University of Connecticut, Schoolof Social Work, Office of Research and Scholarship, Dean Research Incentive Award. CristinaMogro-Wilson, Ph.D. - Principal Investigator; Reinaldo Rojas – Research AssistantDetails and responsibilities: The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding ofthe important role in parenting that a father plays in Puerto Rican family life. This researchexplored the influence males play in parenting, and developing relationships with their child. Asresearch assistant, conducted and voice recorded four bilingual focus group interviews with 6-8participants per group. Interview questions asked about parenting and establishing parent-childrelationships. Findings assisted in a clearer understanding of Puerto Rican family mechanismsand the role of the father, which should allow for better creation of parenting interventions thatfocus solely on the Puerto Rican father.

NON-ACADEMIC RESEARCH & PRACTICE EXPERIENCEProgram Coordinator (April 2011 - February 2013)Connecticut Children’s Medical CenterChildren’s Center for Community ResearchHartford Childhood Wellness Alliance - Childhood Obesity Prevention ResearchHartford, CT.Responsibilities: Overall coordination, leadership and support of obesity and wellness-relatedresearch programs in the Children’s Center for Community Research (C3R) and in particular forthe Hartford Childhood Wellness Alliance. Key responsibilities included coordinating allactivities related to the Hartford Childhood Wellness Alliance; acting as a liaison betweenAlliance members and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the Children’s Center forCommunity Research; working with schools, school based clinics, local governments,researchers and community organizations to implement obesity- and wellness-related projects;preparing protocol and implementation documents for various alliance-related projects;scheduling and coordinating Alliance meetings and Alliance committee meetings; maintainsrecords of meetings and organizes data on Alliance-specific projects; assisting with IRB andCME applications and requirements as needed. Other responsibilities were assuring programcompliance with all mandates appropriate to IRB and CME; playing a major role in data entryand analysis; ordering supplies and monitoring study funds; interfacing with funding agencies;maintaining professional expertise through involvement in professional organizations andcontinuing education programs; encouraging team members to adhere to professional standardsand to expand competencies; actively engaging in determining new program directions byidentifying new funding opportunities and obtaining preliminary data for new projects;representing program on local or national level including poster and platform presentations ofproject findings.Project Director (December, 2005 - December, 2010)City of Hartford Health and Human Services DepartmentMetro Prevention Coalition – HIV prevention with Re-entry Community ResearchHartford, CT.Responsibilities: As project director, in charge of managing the complete grant research process,project development and implementation, data collection and analysis, as well as all theresponsibilities of building and maintaining the coalition. Project director duties consisted ofpreparing and organizing quarterly reports to the federal government, as well as annualcontinuation applications and annual reports, including detailed financial ones. In the area ofproject development and implementation, in charge of developing the intervention, supervise andmanage staff performing the case management, including supervisory and prepare data forevaluation and reports. Other duties included meeting with clients to conduct a thorough needsassessment and then facilitate the development of an intensive individual intervention plan. Thisplan included making the necessary referrals and a comprehensive follow up services, as needed

for each participant, to ensure a proper and stable transition into a community setting afterrelease from incarceration.Community-Based Research Educator (September 2003 - January 2005)The Institute for Community ResearchParticipatory Action Research ProgramHartford, CT.Responsibilities: Engaging and training residents in Hartford’s south end neighborhoods(particularly Frog Hollow) to use the tools of research to promote and strengthen families, tobuild community social support and to participate in community economic development efforts.Other responsibilities included the day to day activities of the ARCC project and coordinatingefforts with those of other team members who were in change of engaging other groups in thecity; establishing and maintaining links with individuals, organizations, government and otherinstitutions to help residents build bridges, gain access to policy makers and access resources.Other responsibilities included the collaboration with other staff in developing curriculum,engaging in research and demonstration efforts designed to understand and document the processlocally and promoting the ICR action research agenda for education and communitydevelopment locally, regionally, nationally and eventually internationally, including participationin publications, conferences and funding efforts.Community Organizer (August, 2002 – August, 2003)The Village for Families and ChildrenThe Village SouthHartford, CT.Responsibilities: Facilitating the development of organizational structures in the identifiedcommunities; outreaching, recruiting and developing neighborhood leaders; coordinating,planning and implementing community events; networking and building relationships withneighborhood resources and continue to recruit and orient new neighborhood members. Alsoresponsible for advocating, mediating and negotiating between various systems; conductingfocus groups and a needs assessment; implementing a community engagement plan in anidentified community; completing a neighborhood profile from existing information; developinga survey focusing on the use of new facilities; forming a resident advisory board to work withvillage administration; participating with Village grants department on the submission ofproposals and providing staff support to neighborhood involvement team.Housing Discrimination Testing Coordinator (May 2001 - July 2002)Connecticut Fair Housing CenterHartford, CT.Responsibilities: In charge of coordinating a pool of trained testers to perform the required testes,based on complaints from clients or audits by the center; designing all the tests, includingassigning characteristics and debriefing all testers and is in charge of administratingreimbursements to all testers. Other responsibilities were doing community outreach to recruittesters in the community and training them afterwards on the statutes of the fair housing laws and