Lorien Velasquez

Lorien Velasquez is a research intern with the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP). She is a second-year Master of Social Work student at the UConn School of Social Work, concentrating in policy practice. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Central Connecticut State University in 2018, where she participated in research examining the effects of non-prescription stimulant use among college students and presented her findings at the Eastern Psychological Association.

Lorien began her career with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families as an investigator, working to ensure the safety and well-being of children and support the needs of families. She was promoted to supervisor in 2023 before joining the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s Court Support Services Division as a probation officer, where she works with clients in northeastern Connecticut.

Through her professional and academic experiences, Lorien has developed a strong interest in child welfare and the criminal justice system, particularly their impact on individuals and families. At IMRP, she looks forward to applying her experience in these areas to the Connecticut Children with Incarcerated Parents (CTCIP) initiative while developing her skills in policy research and contributing to the Institute’s work.