Megan Denver

Megan Denver is an Associate Professor at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice of Northeastern University and serves as the Director of the Corrections and Reentry Lab. Her work focuses on criminal record stigma, employment and recidivism, credentialing decisions for people with criminal records, and desistance, integrating criminological theory with policy analysis.

Education:

• Ph.D., Criminal Justice, University at Albany
• M.A., Sociology, University of Delaware

Her research employs experimental and qualitative methods to examine how societal institutions interact with individuals post-incarceration, including studies on employment barriers, collateral consequences of criminal records, and the role of positive credentials in mitigating stigma. She has secured grants from the National Institute of Justice ($249,766) and the National Science Foundation ($297,178) to explore reentry strategies and background check policies.

Scientific Awards:

• National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship (2016)
• University Distinguished Dissertation Award (2018)
• Outstanding Young Experimental Criminologist Award (2019)
• Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholar Award (2021)

Denver teaches undergraduate courses such as Punishment in the Age of Mass Incarceration, which critically assesses punitive policies, societal challenges, and international comparisons. She advocates for experiential learning through co-op opportunities and encourages students to engage with criminal justice professionals and track policy developments.