Briana Perea

I support the work of Susquehanna Legal Aid for Adults and Youth (SLAAY), a nonprofit organization providing free and low-cost civil legal services to underserved communities in Northcentral Pennsylvania. In this role, I assist with client support and case-related tasks, helping individuals—particularly low-income and English as a second language (ESL) clients—navigate complex legal and tax matters. Through involvement with the Low Income Tax Clinic (LITC), I contribute to efforts addressing issues such as IRS disputes, audits, and payment plans, while helping ensure clients understand their rights and options. This experience has strengthened my communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills while reinforcing a commitment to improving access to justice.

• Research the attitudes of citizens of countries that are led by female leaders to compare the responses of citizens in countries that have a male leader
• Findings are published by an assistant professor and will be presented in my honors thesis.

Assisted in child welfare casework through structured training and field shadowing, gaining exposure to child protective services, general protective services, and specialized units such as foster care and truancy services. Supported psychosocial assessments by utilizing standardized tools and conducting semi-structured interviews with mandated clients. Participated in home visits, intake processes, and case investigations while aiding caseworkers with daily tasks. Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and community service providers, attending supervision sessions and contributing to group projects. Developed professional communication, documentation, and critical thinking skills while applying systems theory and person-in-environment frameworks in practice.

• Assisted asylum seekers and refugees by providing translation services during pro bono legal consultations, helping bridge language and cultural barriers in a legal context.
• Shadowed immigration attorneys, gaining firsthand exposure to asylum law, legal procedure, and client intake processes.
• Developed working knowledge of legal terminology in both English and Spanish, especially in immigration and refugee law.
• Cultivated cross-cultural communication skills by collaborating with an international team and supporting clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Strengthened empathy and cultural sensitivity while supporting vulnerable populations, reinforcing a passion for justice and public interest law.

• Taught children and adults to learn the English language by leading/assisting lessons.
• Helped immigrants prepare for their citizenship test through mock trials and tests.

• Helped design a survey that would anonymously record the number of sexual assault survivors on the campus of Bucknell University.
• Interviewed willing participants of the survey to get feedback on which area of support Bucknell University needed to improve on.
• Presented findings at the Eastern Psychological Association and Bucknell University symposiums.

• Performed qualitative research on Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics, a special archive of books.
• Wrote research papers, reports, reviews, and summaries of the Hearsires Project.
• Participated in regular meetings and presentations with a team of students/professors to discuss results from the data analysis.