Jean Schensul facts for kids
Jean J. Schensul is a scientist who studies people and health. She is a senior scientist at The Institute for Community Research in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Schensul is well-known for her work on preventing serious illnesses like HIV/AIDS. She also researches other health topics in the United States.
She has written a lot about how to study communities and people. Dr. Schensul has helped a lot in the field of applied anthropology. This is where scientists use their knowledge to solve real-world problems. Her work helps reduce health differences among people. It has led to new organizations and partnerships between communities and universities. Dr. Schensul's research often involves working directly with communities. She has studied topics like health for older people, education, and helping people make healthy choices.
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Early Life and Education
Jean Schensul studied anthropology at the University of Manitoba in 1963. She then continued her studies in anthropology and linguistics at the University of Minnesota. She earned her master's degree there in 1967. Later, she completed her PhD in cultural anthropology at the University of Minnesota in 1974.
Career and Research
From 1971 to 1974, Dr. Schensul worked as a research scientist. This was at the Institute for Juvenile Research in Chicago. She then worked as a program evaluator for the Center for New Schools in Chicago from 1974 to 1979.
From 1975 to 1980, Dr. Schensul was the director of Research in Action Inc. This organization worked in Connecticut and Florida. She also helped build the research and training programs at the Hispanic Health Council in Hartford, Connecticut. She was an associate director there from 1978 to 1987.
In 1987, Dr. Schensul started The Institute for Community Research. This is an independent research center. It focuses on prevention research in communities. Her work has reached communities in the United States, India, Peru, Sri Lanka, and China. She served as the executive director and is now a senior scientist there.
Dr. Schensul also works with the Yale Department of Psychology. She is also connected with the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA).
Important Research Work
Dr. Schensul's research looks at health differences. She studies how to help people stay healthy. Her work covers topics like preventing illnesses, mental well-being, and making good health choices. She focuses on diverse urban areas in the United States and other countries.
Her research on health and well-being has received funding from major groups. These include the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The total funding for her projects has been over $35,000,000.
Dr. Schensul is known for creating and testing different ways to help communities. She also helps develop "participatory research." This means people in the community are involved in the research process. She has started or co-founded four community-based health research centers. These include The Institute for Community Research and the Hispanic Health Council in the United States. She also helped start the Instituto Nacional de Salud Comunitaria in Peru. Another one is the Center for Intersectoral Community Health Studies in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Schensul also co-wrote The Ethnographer’s Toolkit. This is a series of seven books. They explain how to do ethnographic and qualitative research. These methods help scientists understand people and cultures.
Her current research includes studies in Mumbai, India. One study looks at health choices among young men. Another study focuses on women's reproductive health and safe choices.
Awards and Achievements
Dr. Schensul has received many awards for her important work:
- 1985 - President, Council on Anthropology and Education
- 1987 - Hispanic Health Council Service Award for her research in Latino communities
- 1990 - Solon T. Kimball Biennial American Anthropology Association. Policy Research Award
- 1992 - San Juan Center/OPUS Community Service Award for her research on older people in Latino communities
- 1995-1997 - President, Society for Applied Anthropology
- 1996 - Audrey Lorde Award for Scholar-Activist Collaboration in Women's Studies
- 2002 - Charter Oak Rice Heights Health Center 25th Anniversary Award for Community Service
- 2004 - Recognized by the State of Connecticut for her achievements as a noted immigrant
- 2004 - Asian Family Services certificate for promoting a multi-ethnic society
- 2009 - Mayor’s Award for Women contributing to the Welfare of Hartford
- 2010-13 - Elected Member, Executive Board, American Anthropological Association
- 2010 - Bronislaw Malinowski Career Award, Society for Applied Anthropology
