Carlene Cornish

Carlene Cornish is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of East Anglia (UEA), with a focus on race equality, anti-oppressive practice, and marginalized populations. She serves as Admissions Director for Social Work and Sociology degrees, and has leadership roles in UEA’s Race Equality initiatives. Her work includes co-chairing the Vice Chancellor's Taskforce on Race Equality and leading funded research projects addressing racial inequalities in social work placements and higher education access.

Dr. Cornish holds a PhD in Sociology and brings professional experience in social work, probation services, and education. Her research explores systemic racism in child protection systems, the experiences of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) students and service users, and pathways for marginalized youth. Key contributions include developing the SAWUBONA practice model to address racial inequities in social work and co-ordinating a digital library resource for Norfolk and Suffolk social workers.

Her international engagement includes roles with the Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work and BASW England, contributing to policy development and safeguarding strategies. She chairs conferences like Re-Imagining Anti-Oppressive and Anti-Discriminatory Practice in Social Work, and serves on editorial boards such as the ARPCE journal. Cornish’s work aligns with UN SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).