Patricia O’Rourke

Patricia O’Rourke is a Research Associate with the Connecticut Sentencing Commission. In this role, Patricia contributes to the work of the Mental Health Subcommittee and other Commission projects through pursuing independent and collaborative research, identifying opportunities for funding and research partnerships, and supporting the success and development of student interns and graduate assistants. Additionally, Patricia maintains her own research agenda on projects related to education segregation, integration, and equity.

Patricia received her PhD in Education from the University of Connecticut (UConn) Neag School of Education and holds graduate certificates in Human Rights and Indigeneity, Race, Ethnicity, and Politics from UConn.

Patricia’s transdisciplinary scholarship explores the root causes of racial and social disparities and our capacity to imagine and contribute to alternative social realities for individual and collective wellbeing. Connecting theory with action, she has worked to support strategic litigation and policy, including the struggle for educational justice in the Greater Hartford area and the Sheff v. O’Neill landmark civil rights case. Patricia was the recipient of multiple grants through the Humanities Institute for community-engaged projects during her time as a graduate student, and she continues to maintain collaborative relationships with a network of individuals and organizations involved in social justice efforts.