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Dr. Janet Garcia-Hallett is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice in the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice and specializes in research examining the intersection of race, gender, and the criminal legal system, with particular focus on formerly incarcerated mothers of color. Dr. Garcia-Hallett's educational background includes: Ph.D., Criminal Justice, Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice M.A., Criminal Justice, Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice B.A., Cum Laude, Honors in Sociology and Psychology, CUNY Macaulay Honors College: Hunter College Her research interests focus on the detrimental impact of incarceration on communities of color and the intersectional obstacles women of color face throughout the criminal legal process. She examines how formerly incarcerated mothers navigate motherhood while confronting systemic barriers related to gender, race, and criminal record. Her work challenges traditional narratives about mass incarceration that have historically centered on men, instead highlighting the unique experiences of women of color who must perform motherwork under oppressive conditions of surveillance and marginalization. Analysis of Dr. Garcia-Hallett's publications reveals consistent themes across criminal justice, gender studies, and race theory. Her work demonstrates a strong focus on qualitative methodologies to center the voices of marginalized populations, particularly examining the intersection of motherhood and incarceration. Recent publications increasingly address public health issues within correctional settings and community reentry challenges. Her research consistently applies critical race and feminist frameworks to challenge systemic oppression within the criminal legal system. Dr. Garcia-Hallett has received significant recognition for her scholarship: 2023 ASA Ida B. Wells-Barnett Distinguished Book Award Multiple 2023 finalists and honorable mentions for book awards 2019 SAGE Junior Faculty Professional Development Teaching Award University of Missouri President's Award for Intercampus Collaboration Her grant funding demonstrates substantial research impact, including the Prison Research and Innovation Network ($200,000) and collaboration on a $2.8 million Arnold Ventures grant for the Missouri Prison Transformation Project. Dr. Garcia-Hallett actively engages in community partnerships, such as her work with Winning Ways Inc. to empower women in the community. Her media presence shows significant public engagement through op-eds in Ms. Magazine and Hartford Courant addressing critical issues like abortion rights for incarcerated women.

• Criminal Justice
• Incarceration Studies
• Women and Criminal Justice
• +4 more

Ram Cnaan is a Professor of Social Work and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with The Weitzman School of Design. He chairs the Doctoral Program in Social Welfare and directs the Program for Religion and Social Policy Research. His work focuses on faith-based social services, congregational welfare provision, and nonprofit management. Cnaan has authored influential books like The Invisible Caring Hand and serves on seven academic journal editorial boards. His research explores volunteerism dynamics, including pandemic impacts on donor retention, cross-national civic participation, and episodic volunteering at religious events. He investigates social entrepreneurship in public sectors and evaluates faith-based organizations' roles in reentry programs for ex-prisoners. Cnaan's recent studies address CSR innovations, donor-advised funds strategies, and prosocial behavior in diverse cultural contexts. Notable contributions include pioneering national studies on congregational social service provision and analyzing Israeli-Palestinian Muslim collaboration in aid work. His work bridges academic research with practical policy solutions for urban quality-of-life challenges.

• Social Work
• Faith-Based Social Services
• Nonprofit Studies
• +4 more

Aaron J. Chalfin serves as Associate Professor and Graduate Chair of Criminology within the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Liberal and Professional Studies. He maintains significant external affiliations as a Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center, faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and research affiliate at the University of Chicago Crime Lab. His academic foundation includes: PhD in Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley (2013) MA in International and Development Economics, Yale University (2004) BS in Industrial & Labor Relations, Cornell University (2003) Chalfin's research program centers on policing economics, officer behavioral preferences, place-based crime prevention strategies, and victimization determinants. He concurrently advances methodological rigor in social science through innovations in measurement error correction, spatial crime concentration metrics, and administrative data linkage techniques. His empirical approach consistently bridges theoretical criminology with practical policy evaluation. Recent publications reveal evolving research trajectories across bias-motivated violence measurement during pandemics, low-cost gun violence interventions, racial disparities in traffic fatalities, and methodological improvements for policy analysis. This body of work demonstrates sustained commitment to evidence-based criminal justice solutions through experimental and quasi-experimental designs. His ongoing collaboration with the University of Chicago Crime Lab exemplifies integration between academic research and real-world crime laboratory operations, focusing on scalable public safety innovations.

• Criminology
• Policing
• Place-Based Crime Prevention
• +5 more

Sylwia J. Piatkowska is an Associate Professor at the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice , Florida State University. Her research focuses on crime and deviance, comparative and international criminology, and advanced quantitative methods. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from SUNY Albany (2016) and a B.A./M.A. from Opole University (2006). Her work has been recognized with top honors from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for her impactful research on criminology. Key research interests include hate crimes, fiscal criminology, immigration policy impacts, and sentencing disparities. She has authored/co-authored influential studies such as “The New Fiscal Criminology” (2022) and “Suspended Licenses, Suspended Lives” (2020). Her recent work examines temporal trends in bias-motivated violence and the intersection of mental health, race, and gender in sentencing. Recent Awards: Top Honors from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for her book. Professional Roles: Member of the National Policing Institute’s Board of Directors and editor of leading criminology journals. Her research bridges macro-level structural factors with micro-level criminal behavior, emphasizing cross-national comparisons and policy implications. She is affiliated with Florida State University’s criminology research programs and actively contributes to academic discourse through peer-reviewed publications and institutional leadership.

• Crime and Deviance
• Comparative Criminology
• International Criminology
• +3 more

Dr. Esther Prins is a Professor of Education in the Learning and Performance Systems department at Pennsylvania State University's College of Education. She serves as Co-Director of both the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy and the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy (ISAL). Her research employs critical and sociocultural theories to examine various forms of literacies (adult, family, digital, health), adult basic education, rural adult education, and participatory approaches to education, community development, and research. Her scholarship particularly explores the "wider benefits" of adult education and how it reproduces or mitigates inequities rooted in race/ethnicity, class, gender, and immigration status. Her primary focus is on community-based programs in adult and family literacy, including adult English as a Second Language (ESOL). Dr. Prins has recently expanded her research to explore the influence of White Christian nationalism in public education, school board elections, adult education, and literacy studies. Her work spans numerous disciplines with publications in journals such as Educational Researcher, American Educational Research Journal, Adult Education Quarterly, and Rural Sociology. Her research has been supported by major funding agencies including the National Science Foundation, Institute of Education Sciences, and Spencer Foundation. Selected awards: Exemplary Paper Award, Adult Literacy and Adult Education SIG, AERA (2025) Graduate Faculty Teaching Award, Penn State (2019) Mildred B. and Charles A. Wedemeyer Award for Outstanding Scholar in Distance Education (2013) Outstanding Researcher Award, College of Education, Penn State (2011) Imogene Okes Award for Outstanding Research, AAACE (2010) Outstanding Paper by an Early Career Scholar Award, AERA (2007) Dr. Prins has co-authored the book "Teaching and Learning about Family Literacy and Family Literacy Programs" (Routledge, 2022) and co-edited "Family and Intergenerational Literacy and Learning: International Perspectives" (UNESCO, 2025). She is actively engaged in community outreach, presenting her research on White Christian nationalism to churches and community groups.

• Adult Literacy
• Family Literacy
• Digital Literacy
• +10 more

Ayorkor Gaba, PsyD, serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan). She directs the Behavioral Health Equity Advancement Lab (B-HEAL) and leads the Equity Division at the Massachusetts Center of Excellence in Specialty Court. Dr. Gaba's academic affiliations include the T.H. Chan School of Medicine at UMass Chan where she conducts research at the intersection of behavioral health and social justice. Dr. Gaba earned her BS in Psychology and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University. Her educational background provided the foundation for her specialized work in clinical psychology with a focus on marginalized populations. Her research program centers on reducing health disparities and advancing health equity through implementation science approaches. Dr. Gaba specifically investigates how to improve behavioral health services for historically marginalized populations including African American/Black and Latino/a/x individuals and families, people involved in the criminal legal system, and women. She examines co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders within specialty court settings, with particular attention to racial/ethnic disparities in service delivery and outcomes. Her work integrates social justice principles with systems thinking to address social determinants of health that contribute to inequities in behavioral healthcare. An analysis of her recent publications (2019-2024) reveals a strong emphasis on implementation science within criminal justice settings, particularly specialty courts. Her research consistently examines racial and ethnic disparities in behavioral health services, with growing attention to digital health interventions and gender-specific considerations in treatment. The publications demonstrate methodological diversity including clinical trials, implementation studies, qualitative analyses, and systematic reviews focused on equity-oriented interventions. Dr. Gaba actively contributes to advancing discourse around race, ethnicity, and culture in psychiatric research and practice, as evidenced by her co-authorship on methodological guidance for reporting on these critical dimensions in research. As Director of the Behavioral Health Equity Advancement Lab (B-HEAL), Dr. Gaba leads a research team focused on developing and testing interventions that address health inequities. Her lab works closely with the Massachusetts Center of Excellence in Specialty Courts, particularly on initiatives related to the Equity Division which she directs. This collaborative structure enables her team to implement and evaluate evidence-based practices in real-world criminal justice settings while centering equity considerations throughout the research process.

• Health Equity
• Implementation Science
• Substance Use Disorders
• +5 more

Danya Keene is an Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), specializing in housing policy and health equity. She holds a PhD from the University of Michigan and was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar. Her research examines how racially discriminatory housing policies exacerbate health disparities, particularly focusing on evictions, rental assistance, and the intersection of housing instability with diabetes and other chronic conditions. Education: PhD, University of Michigan (2009) MAT, Johns Hopkins University (2001) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar, University of Pennsylvania (2013) Research Focus: Dr. Keene’s work bridges housing policy and population health equity. Key themes include: Eviction’s health consequences Racial inequities in housing access Rental assistance programs’ impact on diabetes management Criminal justice system impacts on housing stability Recent Publications Trends: Her 2023-2024 work emphasizes housing policy as a public health intervention, showing rental assistance improves diabetes outcomes and food security while mitigating eviction-related trauma. Scoping reviews highlight eviction’s systemic health effects across demographics. Awards: 2017 YSPH Distinguished Mentor Award for fostering student success in health equity research. Grants & Leadership: Principal Investigator on the Affordable Housing and Diabetes study (2020–2025). Founded YSPH’s U.S. Health Justice Concentration and leads the Housing and Health Equity Lab. Labs/Teams: Co-directs the Housing and Health Equity Lab and collaborates with Yale’s Diabetes Research Center on housing-health linkages.

• Housing Policy
• Health Equity
• Racial Inequality
• +5 more

Shoshana R. Shelton is a Professor at the RAND School of Public Policy and a Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her work centers on program evaluation, public health systems, emergency preparedness, and national health security, with significant contributions to pandemic response, violence prevention, and crisis decision-making. She has led major projects for federal agencies including the CDC, DHS, FEMA, and the U.S. Secret Service. Education: M.P.H., The Ohio State University B.A. in English, Denison University Her research focuses on strengthening public health infrastructure through performance measurement, logic modeling, and stakeholder engagement. She has developed tools such as tabletop exercises for continuity of operations in public health laboratories and led after-action reviews of the public health response to COVID-19. Her work emphasizes building resilience against biological threats, natural disasters, and targeted violence. Shelton's recent publications highlight trends in emergency alert systems, disaster resilience, criminal justice reform during pandemics, and equitable health security research investment. She advocates for evidence-based policies that balance bioterrorism preparedness with responses to natural disasters and climate-related emergencies. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. She has advised or collaborated with numerous federal and state agencies, contributing to national health security through rigorous evaluation and policy analysis. Her grants and projects reflect sustained funding from DHS, CDC, and other federal bodies focused on improving public safety and health system readiness. She has also led initiatives on behavioral threat assessment in schools and wearable technology for law enforcement wellness. Labs and Teams: Previously led a four-year project on mass attacks and targeted violence for the U.S. Secret Service. Collaborated with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) on continuity of operations planning. Contributed to the Priority Criminal Justice Needs Initiative, fostering innovation across law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

• Program Evaluation
• Performance Measurement
• Public Health
• +12 more

Jared F. Edgerton is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, affiliated with the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. His research focuses on how social relations and networks influence conflict dynamics, employing methodologies from network science and machine learning. He holds a Ph.D. (2021) and M.A. (2018) in Political Science from The Ohio State University. Key research interests include terrorism, international security, civil war, and data-driven approaches to conflict analysis. His work spans topics like media effects on violence (e.g., Rwanda's radio impact), extremist recruitment networks (Islamic State), and elite polarization in crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodologically, he combines experimental designs, bipartite network analysis, and geospatial techniques. Notable contributions include analyzing genocide participation in Rwanda, resilience in cooperative state networks, and the socio-technical dimensions of conflict mobilization. His interdisciplinary approach bridges political science, computer science, and security studies. While no scientific awards are explicitly listed, his prolific output reflects sustained scholarly impact. Edgerton has advised no listed students but has engaged in quasi-experimental policy evaluations (e.g., prisoner recidivism programs) and applied geospatial analysis to post-conflict land safety in Cambodia. His research portfolio demonstrates a commitment to both theoretical innovation and real-world conflict mitigation strategies.

• Conflict Analysis
• International Security
• Network Science
• +7 more

Lena Roxell is a Lecturer at the Department of Criminology, Stockholm University, where she conducts research on prison systems, recidivism, and criminal networks. She is an active member of the Quantitative Criminology Research Group, established in 2022, which focuses on the possibilities and limitations of quantitative methods in criminology. Her primary research interests include prison research, with particular focus on long-term sentenced prisoners, prison networks, and recidivism patterns. Dr. Roxell examines how prison experiences affect reintegration outcomes and studies the structural aspects of co-offending networks. Her work often employs quantitative methods to analyze large datasets related to criminal behavior and prison administration. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on prison governance, recidivism timing, and the social dynamics within correctional facilities. Her research spans comparative studies (particularly between Sweden and other countries), methodological approaches to criminological research, and specialized topics like faith-based units in prisons and hate crime patterns. The publications demonstrate a sophisticated use of quantitative methods and longitudinal data analysis throughout her career. Dr. Roxell teaches thesis work and supervises students in prison research. Her current research project focuses on analyzing reduced recidivism after prison sentences based on client composition, prison services, labor market connections, and substance abuse. She is actively involved in the Quantitative Criminology Research Group at Stockholm University, contributing to methodological developments in the field and applying these approaches to understand complex prison dynamics and criminal behavior patterns.

• Criminology
• Prison Research
• Recidivism
• +6 more

Amanda Agan is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, affiliated with the Department of Economics and the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. She holds positions as a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), Research Fellow at IZA, and Member of the HCEO Working Group. Her research focuses on the economics of crime, labor market discrimination, and public policy, particularly examining how criminal involvement impacts labor market opportunities and vice versa. She also investigates policies to mitigate discrimination. Agan earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago (2013) and a B.A. in Economics from George Mason University. Her recent work explores criminal record remediation, salary history bans, and the effects of misdemeanor prosecution. Her research combines quasi-experimental and field experimental methods to address pressing policy questions. Key findings include the impact of criminal record reduction on employment and the unraveling effects of salary history bans. Her articles often highlight labor market disparities, criminal justice reform, and algorithmic bias. Agan’s awards include affiliations with J-PAL North America and the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunity.

• Economics of Crime
• Labor Market Discrimination
• Public Policy Analysis
• +3 more

Dr. Tony Gaskew is a Professor of Criminal Justice and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (UPB), where he has served since 2006. He holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis from Nova Southeastern University and is a faculty affiliate at the Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) in the School of Social Work. His research focuses on counterinsurgency (COIN), Black Male Studies, and Killology, with a strong emphasis on police abolition, African American resistance, and prison education reform. Ph.D. Conflict Analysis, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nova Southeastern University M.S. Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Institute, Nova Southeastern University B.L.S. Behavioral Science, Barry University Dr. Gaskew’s academic work explores intersections of systemic oppression, white supremacy, and transformative justice. His ethnographic research spans Africa, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories, with a notable focus on post-9/11 policing of Muslim American communities. He created the FBI-COINTELPRO-Pittsburgh Collection, a digital archive documenting FBI counterintelligence operations targeting the 1960s Black Power Movement, and has authored over 50 publications, including his 2020 book Stop Trying to Fix Policing . His 2025 awards include The Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award and The Dr. Larry E. Davis Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship Award, reflecting his commitment to social justice and community partnerships. He founded the nationally recognized UPB Prison Education Program, pioneering post-secondary initiatives at federal and state correctional facilities. Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award (2025) Dr. Larry E. Davis Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship Award (2025) Dr. Gaskew’s 15 most recent publications highlight his expertise in critical race theory, counterinsurgency, and prison reform. His work spans from 2023 analyses of Black Liberation Army strategies to foundational 2007 studies on post-9/11 policing. Common themes include systemic racism, social justice, and the psychological impacts of policing and incarceration. As a Fulbright Hays Scholar and military combat veteran, Dr. Gaskew brings interdisciplinary rigor to his roles. He teaches courses on Killology, examining the lived experience of deadly force in policing and military contexts, and advocates for transformative educational practices in correctional settings.

• Counterinsurgency (COIN)
• Black Male Studies (BMS)
• Killology
• +3 more

Derrick M Gordon is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and Associate Professor on Term in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health . He serves as Director of the Program on Male Development in the Division of Prevention and Community Research at the Department of Psychiatry and is a Core Scientist at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA). Education: PhD in Psychology from the University of South Dakota (2000), MA in Psychology (1995). Dr. Gordon's research focuses on men's health , particularly those on the fringes of society, including prisoner reentry , low-income non-custodial fathers , and adolescent fathers . His work examines how factors like stressors , trauma , and discrimination impact health outcomes and community integration for these populations. His recent publications highlight trends in social equity , mental health , and preventive interventions for marginalized men. Topics include epigenetic aging disparities , trauma in adult education , and community-led health initiatives like the Together New Haven Project . Dr. Gordon mentors pre- and post-doctoral fellows on issues of fatherhood , healthcare access , and criminal justice reform . His funding portfolio includes NIH , HHS , and community-based grants . He collaborates with teams at the Consultation Center , CIRA , and Connecticut Mental Health Center , emphasizing data-driven policy and community engagement to address health disparities.

• Public Health
• Men's Health
• Preventive Medicine
• +8 more

Dr. Erin Castro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and serves as Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Access in the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Utah. She co-founded the University of Utah Prison Education Project (2016) and launched the Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison (2017). Her work focuses on equity in higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated populations, policy analysis, and critical pedagogy. Education: PhD in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale; BS in Business Administration. Research Interests: Dr. Castro’s scholarship examines equity in prison education, the impact of criminal history questions in admissions, transfer student experiences, and anti-racist praxis. Her work addresses how institutional policies perpetuate marginalization and proposes reforms for inclusive practices. Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize data equity, disciplinary power in prisons, and funding challenges post-Pell restoration. Her work bridges policy analysis with on-the-ground experiences, often centering voices of incarcerated students and marginalized communities. Scientific Awards: Lieutenant Governor’s Public Service Award (2024) College of Education Research Award (2024) Early Career Teaching Award (2017) Grants: She has secured external funding, including a Center for Prison Education Planning Grant (2023-2025) and travel grants to support conferences. Her grants often focus on expanding access and equity for formerly incarcerated and foster care populations. Labs & Teams: Dr. Castro leads the Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison and co-founded the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. She collaborates with national organizations like the Lumina Foundation and Alliance for Higher Education in Prison.

• Equity in Higher Education
• Prison Education
• Education Policy
• +4 more

Erin Comartin is a Professor at Wayne State University School of Social Work, where she has served on faculty since 2016 after transitioning from Oakland University. Her scholarship critically examines social welfare policies and interventions for vulnerable populations within the criminal legal system, with particular emphasis on behavioral health needs and systemic reform initiatives. Her educational foundation includes: Ph.D. in Social Work from Wayne State University MSW from Wayne State University Post-Graduate Diploma of Arts in Community & Family Studies from University of Otago, New Zealand BA in Sociology from Oakland University Comartin's research program integrates clinical expertise from her prior work with homeless youth and domestic violence survivors to address critical gaps in justice-involved behavioral health services. She specializes in sex offender management policies, jail diversion interventions, and Behavioral Threat Assessment teams designed to prevent mass violence. Her methodological expertise spans qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods program evaluation with strong community engagement components. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals intensified focus on suicide prevention in correctional settings, overdose response systems, and law enforcement behavioral health training efficacy. Her work increasingly employs journey mapping and multi-site trial designs to evaluate systemic interventions across rural-urban divides, reflecting evolving priorities in criminal legal health services research. As principal investigator for Center for Behavioral Health and Justice initiatives, Comartin leads community-engaged projects including veteran reentry evaluations and Sequential Intercept Model implementation assessments. Her teaching portfolio encompasses advanced policy analysis, macro practice theory, and program evaluation within Wayne State's social work curriculum.

• Criminal Justice Social Work
• Mental Health Interventions in Justice Settings
• Sex Offender Policy and Management
• +4 more