Natasha Brien

3rd Year PhD Student, and Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Award Recipient: University of Toronto
Master of Social Work, with Distinction: York University
Bachelor of Social Work, Summa Cum Laude: York University
Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counselor/Advocate Diploma with Honors: George Brown College

Research Interests: Intersections between social work, law and criminology; impacts of the criminal justice/correctional systems on families supporting someone in conflict with the law; stigma and resilience amongst criminalized identities. Issues around human rights, social justice; feminist, de-colonizing and critical theories; interpretive methodologies – community-based, participatory action, arts-based research.

Year Of Study: 3

Natasha Brien holds a specialized diploma and certificate from feminist, women studies programs, taken at George Brown College and York University, and is proud to say that she was selected this year, as a Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Award Recipient. Natasha is currently working as a Royal Bank Fellow, a research coordinator, and a course instructor. Natasha has conducted community-based research on Bill C-43 ‘Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals’; an arts-based study on the needs and experiences of women in intimate relationships with federally incarcerated men in Canada; as well as, research on inter-professional practice amongst the disciplines of social work and law at legal aid clinics in Ontario for Osgoode Hall’s Community and Legal Aid Services Programme (CLASP).  Since 2011, Natasha has served as founder of SOSOLO (Supporting Ourselves while Supporting Our Loved Ones). Within academia and in the broader community, Natasha works diligently to fill gaps in services for families supporting loved ones in conflict with the criminal justice system, while creating public awareness of population-specific issues and strengths.