Louise B. Simmons Papers

Louise B. Simmons grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a BA in Sociology in 1971. She earned an MA in Education in 1980 from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D in Urban and Regional Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1991.

Simmons moved to Hartford, Connecticut, in the early 1970s and was soon immersed in local and national organizations that promoted economic and social justice. Some of the organizations she worked with include the Connecticut Defense Coalition Against Racist & Political Repression (the Connecticut Chapter of the National Alliance Racism & Political Repression) where she served as its co-chairperson in the mid-1970s, the Anti-Racism Coalition of Connecticut (1982-1987), the steering committee of the Community Labor Alliance for Strike Support (1986-1991), and many others.

Professional positions that Dr. Simmons has held include as an organizing coordinator for the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group (1975-1977), assistant to the Director of Field Education at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work (1977-1979), and Coordinator of Projects for the UConn School of Social Work (1979-1980). Dr. Simmons has taught at the UConn School of Social Work since 1980 and has service as Lecturer/Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor and Director of the Urban Semester Program. Her research interests include urban politics and policy, community organization, welfare policy, economic justice movements, economic and labor rights, labor-community partnerships, involvement in collaborative research projects on the impact of welfare policy changes, labor and social work.