Baz Dreisinger

Baz Dreisinger is a Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), serving as the Founding Academic Director of its Prison-to-College Pipeline program. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Columbia University, specializing in American and African-American studies. Her work focuses on race, crime, culture, and justice, with an emphasis on prison reform and restorative justice systems. Additionally, she contributes as a journalist and critic, writing on Caribbean culture, race, music, and pop culture for major outlets like the New York Times and NPR.

Education:

• Ph.D. in English, Columbia University (specialization: American & African-American Studies)

Research Interests: Dreisinger’s research explores global prison systems, mass incarceration critiques, and the intersection of criminal justice with cultural narratives. Her book Incarceration Nations (2016) was critically acclaimed, and she co-produced documentaries on hip-hop and the prison industrial complex. She advocates for expanding educational access to incarcerated individuals through initiatives like the Prison-to-College Pipeline, now being replicated internationally.

Awards:

• 2017-2018 Global Fulbright Scholar

Advising & Grants: Currently developing a roadmap to replace mass incarceration with restorative justice systems, funded by international collaborations. Her work bridges academia and activism, leveraging media platforms to amplify justice reform discourse.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Prison-to-College Pipeline, connecting incarcerated individuals to higher education and reentry support networks.