Adrienne Jones to Present First DeLaney Center Dialogue Discussion of 2025-26 Academic Year Jones will share observations on the myriad impacts faced by suspended drivers in North Carolina.

By Brian Laubscher
September 8, 2025

The DeLaney Center at Washington and Lee University will present two events Monday, Sept. 15, featuring Adrienne Jones, DeLaney Center postdoctoral fellow. The first event is a Reading Club Breakfast held from 8 to 9 a.m. in the second-floor conference room at the Gin Hotel in downtown Lexington. The second event is a DeLaney Dialogue discussion held in the Watson Pavilion from noon to 1 p.m. Both events include a free meal and are open to the public.

The Reading Club Breakfast will set the stage for the afternoon DeLaney Dialogue session by the reading of a policy brief co-authored by Jones titled “Suspending Driver’s Licenses due to Outstanding Traffic Citations Increases Financial Stress and Limits Job Opportunities.” The brief evaluates North Carolina’s approach to driving privileges and traffic violations. While enjoying a free breakfast, guests will engage in conversation to learn more about the authors’ methods and conclusions.

The DeLaney Dialogue discussion titled “Trying Not to Make Things Hard: Exploring Transportation Arrangements Among Suspended Drivers,” involves a deeper dive into the transportation arrangements on which suspended drivers ultimately settle.

“Often, when I present my work, I’m talking about the consequences of suspended driving privileges,” said Jones. “I also think it is important to take a step back to understand the circumstances that shape those consequences, like motorists’ decisions about traveling from place to place. I’m looking forward to diving into this topic during my talk.”

Jones is in her second year as the DeLaney Center postdoctoral fellow. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Public Policy from Duke University and a Ph.D. in public policy and sociology from Duke University.

The DeLaney Dialogue series was created to engage audiences in conversation about regionally resonant themes, allowing for open discourse and learning opportunities. Exhibiting innovative strategies for teaching and researching Southern racial realities, these programs allow faculty and other interested participants to imagine how this protean region fits into broader professional and public possibilities.

The DeLaney Center is an interdisciplinary academic forum that promotes teaching and research on race and Southern identity. Visit the DeLaney Center website for updates on further DeLaney Dialogues, film screenings and other programming.