Jennifer Hernández, Ed.D. 6 Byrd Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 /860-490-2766/ [email protected] ______OBJECTIVE To obtain a position in a higher education that provides the opportunity to recruit and motivate academic interests as well as to pursue scholarly and professional concentrations, teach courses and advise students.

EDUCATION

University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT Doctor of Educational Leadership, 2015 Dissertation title: Examining the Effects of Dispositional Optimism on Older Teen Mothers Ability to Achieve Academic Success

Springfield College, Springfield, MA Masters of Science in Human Services Organizational Management and Leadership, 2002

Lesley College, Cambridge, MA Bachelor of Science in Human Services Counseling Psychology, 2000

Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT Associates of Science, General Studies, 1994

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2016-Present University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT Adjunct Faculty, School of Graduate and Professional Studies Social Work Practice II Community Mental Health

2006-Present Tunxis Community College, Farmington, CT Adjunct Lecturer, Social Science & Humanities Courses Taught Public Speaking [currently teaching] Introduction to Human Services [currently teaching] Human Services Methods and Skills General Psychology . Developed course content and course syllabus . Conducted lectures, class discussions . Provided one-to-one tutorials . Tailored course format and expectations based on needs of non-traditional students

2005-2006 Community Colleges Minority Fellow, 2006 Tunxis Community College, Farmington, CT

Presentations: 1994-Present Connecticut After School Network, 2015 Developing Effective Communication Skills for Teachers and Others to Enhance Classroom Engagement , 2015 Panel Participant, Board of Visitors College of Education, Nursing and Health Sciences Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs, Hartford, CT, 2015 Panel Participant, Issues in Teen Pregnancy New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO), 2014 Examining the Effects of Dispositional Optimism on Older Teen Mothers Ability to Achieve Academic Success Hospital of Central Connecticut, 2015 Understanding the Needs of Teen Parents in Preventative and Intervention Health Pediatrics, Labor/Delivery, OB/GYN New England Educational Research Organization, (NEERO), 2013 Exploring Innovative Practices to Enhance the Psychological Capital of Young Mothers Engaged in Supportive Services Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA), 2012 Employing Elder Young Mothers Wisdom: Developing a Curriculum of Social Supports for College Bound Teen Mothers NECC NERO Associate Degree Granting Best Practices Conference, 2012 Transformative Leadership for Strong Educational Systems The Gestalt Institute Skills for Developing Learning and Student Retention, 2012 Connecticut Perinatal Association, 2011 Teen Pregnancy and the Law Connecticut Parent Aide Association, 2007/08 Motivational Supervision: Avoiding Burnout in Home Visitation Services Connecticut Department of Children and Families, 2004 Working with High Risk Youth Myers & Briggs Publishing, 2004 Connecting Family to Work: Balancing Act (National bring your child to work day) Florence Crittenden Round Table Child Welfare League of America, 1999 Using Photographing and Writing as a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Strategy Planned Parenthood, 1994-1999 Developing Effective Groups for Teen Mothers Preventing Teen Pregnancy an Alternative Approach Guest Lecturer Southern Connecticut State University, Social Work, 1999 Developing Best Practices in Working with Teen Parents America’s Promise, 1999 Examining Efforts to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Facilitator of presentations National Public Radio, 1998 Teen Mothers, Life Stories Facilitator Connecticut Public Radio, 1995 Discussions: Teen Parenting and Prevention Best Practices

1999-Present Hospital of Central Connecticut, Department of Social Work, New Britain, CT Program Manager/Clinical Supervisor, Family Enrichment Center- Social Work (2002-Present)

Designed and created the Family Enrichment Center as a new initiative for social work Developed an newly designed outreach services of the social work department Seeks prospective funding opportunities, increased funding from $20,000 to $1.6 million in funding (variable, annually based on outcomes and fiscal climate) Writes grants and maintains program budgets and reports Establishes and maintains legislative communication Develop Continues Quality Improvement (CQI) for Children’s Trust Fund Manages Results Based Accountability (RBA) outcome based evaluation data Participates in developing quality management procedures for statewide initiative Co-designed school based support program for parenting and pregnant teens

New Britain General Hospital (Hospital of Central Connecticut) 1999-2002 Program Coordinator, Mothers Offering Mothers Support (M.O.M.S.) & Nurturing Program Developed programming and curriculum -Recruited and supervised volunteers for program Provided training to volunteers and community members Developed all outreach for recruitment and retention of participants Established community connections and supports for programing via developing mentorships, inviting speakers for engagement with program participants, established involvement of Junior League, League of Women Voters, local church committees, Girl Scouts of America, YWCA to enhance programming

1994-1999 Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, CT Department of Psychiatry/Family Advocacy Program Young Parent Program Prevention/Outreach Worker /Parent Aide Created and implemented group programming to support at risk teens (including specialized programing for pregnant and parenting teens) Coordinated enrollment of women into educational programs: job readiness, adult education, and college Coordinated participants for a photography and writing project developed for teen pregnancy prevention that was highlighted in the New York Times and on National Public Radio Promoted community linkages to support public relations Facilitated and created trainings for community organizations

Adolescent Development Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs Prevention/Outreach Worker Created curriculum for use with “Baby Think It Over” baby simulation tool Produced in collaboration/ Don’t Kid Yourself, a teen pregnancy prevention video Designed and implemented specialized program for Long Lane Juvenile Detention Center Provided community assessment with focus on “at risk” teen girls, and developed programming to support Co-created curriculum for training staff at Riverview Psychiatric Hospital for adolescents

Committee Service: Tunxis Community College-Human Services Advisory Board, Farmington, CT Tunxis Community College-Professional Staff Organization, Farmington, CT Coalition for Youth, New Britain, CT Community Needs Assessment Team, Wethersfield, CT Health and Wellness Committee, New Britain, CT Early Childhood Cabinet, Hartford, CT Office of Early Childhood, Home Visiting Consortium, Hartford, CT Educational Outcomes Collation, New Britain, CT Continues Quality Improvement (CQI) Children’s Trust Fund, Hartford, CT

Certificates: Certified Trainer Life Skills Progression Inventory (LSP) Gestalt International Study Center/Transformational Leadership for Strong Educational Systems Certified Trainer/ Parent Project MELD Parenting That Works/ National Certification as MELD trainer Family Development Credential Manager/State of Connecticut Family Development Institute UCONN School of Social Work/Field Education Supervisor

Awards: Connecticut Community Colleges 2006 Minority Fellow American Association of Social Workers in Group Process 1999 Award Annual certificate of recognition from the Department of Children and Families, 1995-1999 J.C. Penny Golden Rule Award 1993-1994 for Group Work New Britain General Hospital

Professional Memberships: American Educational Research Association (AERA) Kappa Delta Pi International Education Honor Society National Association of Human Services