Gerald (Jerry) O'Brien
Ph.D., University of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign
M.S.W., University of Missouri
Curriculum Vitae
Professor
1306D Peck Hall
618-650-5758
[email protected]
Teaching:
Macro Practice
Policy and Policy Analysis
Disabilities
Scholarship:
Eugenics and Persons with Disabilities
History of Social Justice/Injustice
Metaphor Analysis
Disability Policy
I am a professor emeritus, which basically means I’m retired from full-time teaching. Previous to retirement I was a professor in the Department for twenty-three years, as well as BSW Program Director for about 8 years and Department Chair for 3. My main areas of interest are social policy, disability studies and historical issues in social work and social justice, as well as metaphor analysis in relation to oppression and denigration. I’ve had five books published, along with about two dozen peer-reviewed articles, mostly focusing on disability issues, eugenics, and metaphor analysis in relation to discrimination and social injustice. My practice experience included about seven years as director of a day training program for adults with developmental disabilities.
