Deena A. Isom

Deena A. Isom serves as Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at the University of South Carolina's McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, where she holds a PhD in Sociology from Emory University (2015) with dual specializations in Criminology and Social Psychology. Her academic trajectory reflects deep commitment to centering marginalized voices within justice system analyses.

Her educational foundation includes:

• PhD in Sociology, Emory University (2015), specializing in Criminology and Social Psychology

Dr. Isom's research program critically examines the interplay between identity, systemic injustice, and criminalization through intersectional frameworks. She pioneers theoretical advancements in criminology by foregrounding lived experiences of marginalized communities, particularly exploring how race, gender, and mental health intersect with justice system entanglement. Her scholarship consistently challenges dominant paradigms through rigorous application of critical race theory and general strain theory across diverse populations including LGBTQ+ individuals, racial minorities, and victims of systemic discrimination.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant thematic clusters: (1) Whiteness studies and systemic racism in criminal behavior, (2) Victimization patterns across gender and racial identities, and (3) Cross-cultural applications of strain theory. Her work demonstrates exceptional methodological diversity spanning quantitative analyses of mass shooting data, qualitative examinations of media representations, and theoretical expansions of criminological frameworks for Latinx and Asian communities.

Her scholarly impact is recognized through prestigious accolades:

• University of South Carolina McCausland Fellow
• Garnet Apple Award recipient
• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Minorities and Women Section’s Becky Tatum Excellence in Scholarship Award
• American Society of Criminology Division on People of Color and Crime’s Coramae Richey Mann Award

As Editor of Race and Justice: An International Journal, she shapes global discourse on racial equity in criminal justice. Her influential 2024 book Gratuitous Angst in White America: A Theory of Whiteness and Crime (Routledge) establishes new theoretical ground in critical criminology. While specific grant details aren't provided, her prolific output across top journals including Social Science & Medicine and Journal of Interpersonal Violence indicates sustained research activity. No dedicated labs or research teams are mentioned in available materials, though her editorial leadership suggests extensive collaborative networks.