Rory P. O'Brien
Discipline: Social Work
Dr. Rory O’Brien (they/them) is an Assistant Professor in the San Diego State University School of Social Work. Dr O'Brien came to social work research from a career in advocacy for LGBTQA+ mental health, violence prevention, and sexual and reproductive justice. Their research is motivated and inspired by their life and experience as a nonbinary queer person with a long history of engagement in feminist, anti-racist, and social justice movements. Their primary interest as a researcher is to produce evidence useful to the protection of human rights through strong and effective policymaking, promotion of youth civic development and action, and engagement of communities in knowledge-production and social change.
O’Brien’s most recent work has investigated local implementation of laws and best practices in schools for trans and nonbinary children and adolescents, including name changes, gender-neutral restrooms, and privacy protections. This work highlighted intervenable issues in the implementation of these human rights policies as well as opportunities for students, school staff and districts to collaborate to effect local change to better protect trans, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ youth. The goal of this research is to inform potential future local and state policies to protect transgender and nonbinary student rights to privacy and education.
O’Brien holds a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies from Willamette University, a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health from Washington University in St. Louis, and a PhD in social work from the University of Southern California.
You can contact Rory at rpobrien@sdsu.edu
