Edna Brown

Associate Professor Emeritus

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CURRICULUM VITAE

 

Educational Background:

• Research Fellow, Life Course Development Program, and Program for Research on Black Americans, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan 2004-2005
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Psychology, University of Michigan, 2002-2004
• Joint Ph.D. Degree in Social Work and Developmental Psychology, University of Michigan, 2002
• M.S.W., University of Michigan, 1997
• B.A., Mount Holyoke College, Frances Perkins Scholar, 1994

Research Interests:

• Stressful life transitions during middle & later adulthood within diverse social and cultural contexts
• Marital relationships and factors leading to divorce
• Ethnic minority health and well being

Selected Grants Awarded:

• 2012, Principal Investigator, A Focus Group Pilot Study to Examine How Religious Beliefs and Social Relationships May Hamper or Enhance Health Promotion Behaviors Among African American Breast and Cervical Cancer Survivors” Large Faculty Grant proposal to University of Connecticut.
• 2012-2013., Principal Investigator, Innovative Education in Health and Society: HDFS Educational Program in Research on Social Aspects of Health. Alan R. Bennett sponsored educational program that address social aspects of human health, focused on the synergy between teaching and research.
• 2011-2012, Principal Investigator, Innovative Education in Health and Society: HDFS Educational Program in Research on Social Aspects of Health. Alan R. Bennett sponsored educational program that address social aspects of human health, focused on the synergy between teaching and research.
• 2010, Principal Investigator, Provost’s General Education Course Enhancement Grant. University of Connecticut grant for developing online general education course.
• 2008, Principal Investigator, The Divorce Experience among African Americans, Large Faculty Grant,–New Faculty Fellowship.
• 2003-Pilot Investigator, Mastery, Family Conflict, and Depressive Symptoms among Grandmothers in Teenage Mother Families. Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR)

Selected Publications:

• Fabius, C., Robison, J., Brown, E. (2020). Racial differences in choice and control among older adults: Results from Connecticut’s money follows the person rebalancing demonstration. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 32:2, 172-187, DOI:10.1080/08959420.2019.158988
• Fiori, K., Rauer, A., Birditt, K., Marini, C., Jager, J., Brown, E., & Orbuch, T. (2018). I love you, not your friends: Links between partners’ early disapproval of friends and divorce across 16 years. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35(9), 1230–1250.
• Fiori, K., Rauer, A., Birditt, K.,Brown, E., Jager, J. & Orbuch, T. (2017). Social network typologies of black and white married couples: Implications for positive and negative marital quality.   Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(2), 571-589.
• Peterson, L. T., Orbuch, T.O. & Brown, E. (2014). Perceived admiration and transition to parenthood for Black and White married couples. Journal of Family Social Work, 17:4, 301-323. doi:10.1080/10522158.2014.928659
• Orbuch, T., Bauermeister, J., Brown, E., & *McKinley, B. (2013). Early family ties and marital stability over 16 years: The context of race and gender. Family Relations, 62(2), 255-268.
• Taylor, R., Chatters, L., Woodard, A., & Brown, E. (2013). Racial and ethnic differences in extended family, friendship, fictive kin, and congressional support networks. Family Relations, 62(4), 609-624.
• Brown, E., Orbuch, T., Bauermeister, J., & *McKinley, B. (2013). Marital well being overtime among Black and White Americans: The first seven years. Journal of African American Studies, 17,290-307.
• Brown, E., Birditt, K. S., *Huff, S., & *Edwards, L. L. (2012). Marital dissolution and psychological well being: Race and gender differences in the moderating role of marital relationship quality. Research in Human Development, 9(2), 145–164. doi:10.1080/15427609.2012.681202
• Taylor, R. J., Brown, E., Chatters, L. M., & Lincoln, K. D. (2012). Extended family support and relationship satisfaction among married, cohabiting and romantically involved African Americans and Black Caribbeans. Journal of African American Studies, 16(3), 373-389. doi 10.1007/s12111-011-9205-y
• Taylor, R. J., Chae, D. H., Chatters, L. M., Lincoln K. D., & Brown, E. (2012). DSM-IV twelve month and lifetime major depressive disorder and romantic relationships among African Americans.  Journal of Affective Disorder, 142, 339-342. doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.04.017

Selected Presentations at Professional Meetings:

• Fiori, K. L., Rauer, A. J., Birditt, K. S., Brown, E., & Orbuch, T. (2016, November). Considering marital instability within the broader family context: A focus on race and gender. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Minneapolis, MN.
• *Mkuu, R. S., Jara, M., Harvey, I. S., Green, H. D., Brown, E. (2016, March). Religiosity and coping among African American breast cancer survivors. Research presented at the 37th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Washington, DC.
• Brown, E., Harvey, I. S., *Ford, C., *Green, H. D., (2014, November). Barriers and resources for health behavior changes among African American cancer survivors: A focus group pilot study. Poster presented at The 142^nd American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans, LA.
• Brown, E., Orbuch, T., *Yoo, Y., & Birditt, K. (2014, November). Religiosity and Marital Stability over 16 years among Black American and White American Couples. Paper presented at The Gerontological Society of America’s 67th Annual Scientific Meeting, Washington, D.C.
• *Green, H. D., Brown, E., Harvey, I. S., & *Ford, C. (2014, December). Impact of support for African American breast cancer survivors. Poster presented at the meeting of the 2014 National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Grantees’ Conference, National Harbor, MD.
• Fiori, K., Brown, E., Birditt, K., & Orbuch, T. (2012, November). Does Personality Matter? Race Differences in Interactions between Spousal Personality Traits Predicting Marital Well-being 16 Years Later. Paper presented at The Gerontological Society of America’s 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, CA.
• Fiori, K., Birditt, K., Brown, E., &Orbuch, T. (2012, November). Social Network Typologies of Black and White Married Couples: Implications for Positive and Negative Marital Quality. Paper presented at The Gerontological Society of America’s 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, CA.