Demar Lewis

Demar Lewis, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland, with an affiliate appointment in the Department of African American and Africana Studies. His research focuses on the intersection of racial violence, policing practices, and community safety, particularly for Black Americans. He employs historical methods, qualitative interviews, statistical analyses, and computational techniques to study topics like gentrification, carceral violence, and historical lynchings.

Education:

• Ph.D. Sociology & African American Studies, Yale University (2023)
• M.Phil. Sociology & African American Studies, Yale University (2020)
• M.P.P. Social Policy (cum laude), University of Michigan (2016)
• B.A. Business Administration (cum laude), University of Saint Thomas-MN (2011)

Research Interests:

• Influence of gentrification and resource deprivation on policing
• Health consequences of carceral violence and racism
• Historical analysis of U.S. lynchings and their modern implications
• Evolution of 'defund' mandates in U.S. politics

Teaching: Current courses include Race, Crime and Criminal Justice and Lynching, Race, and the Law. Office hours are managed via online scheduling platforms.

Advising & Grants: Current graduate students are listed but no specific names provided. His work integrates sociological and criminological frameworks to address systemic inequities in public safety and criminal justice systems.