Clarissa D. Jackson

Clarissa D. Jackson, MSW (she/her) earned her MSW degree from the Brown School in 2016, with a focus on older adults and social and economic development. Throughout her decade of social work practice in St. Louis, Clarissa has served as a Field Instructor for many practicum students on both the Foundation and Concentration levels. She has also served as an adjunct instructor for Texas State University and WashU, teaching an Introduction to Social Work course from 2020-2025. Her teaching emphasizes critical reflection, inclusive learning environments, and the integration of theory and practice to prepare students for ethical, equity-centered professional practice.

Before joining the Brown School, Clarissa served as a social worker with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, where she advocated for youth and families experiencing educational inequities and housing instability for six years. Her work included advancing education justice initiatives, implementing evidence-based interventions, contributing to grant-funded programs, and collaborating with interdisciplinary partners to address systemic barriers affecting unhoused, unaccompanied youth. This led to innovative case law changes, including allowing unaccompanied youth to access mental health care with managed care providers, obtain identification, and led to the creation of the Missouri Homeless Youth Handbook. 

Clarissa is thrilled to return to the Brown School as a lecturer. Her goal is to educate, inspire and empower students to understand the concepts of social justice, equity, empathy and being a person for others. She is dedicated to expanding opportunities for future social workers and fostering the next generation of leaders committed to becoming agents of change.