معرفی
Derek A. Kreager serves as Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Pennsylvania State University's College of the Liberal Arts, holding dual appointments in Sociology and Criminology and Demography. He concurrently serves as Associate Head of the Department of Sociology and Criminology and is a Co-Funded Faculty member at the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI).
His educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Washington (2006, 2002) and a B.S. in Psychology from the United States Naval Academy (1993).
- Ph.D. Sociology, University of Washington, 2006
- M.A. Sociology, University of Washington, 2002
- B.S. Psychology, United States Naval Academy, 1993
Kreager's research centers on social network dynamics within criminological contexts, with dual specialization in prison sociology and adolescent development. His work examines how friendships and romantic relationships influence risk-taking behaviors across the life course, particularly focusing on incarceration experiences and community re-entry processes. He employs advanced network methodologies to study inmate social structures, family visitation impacts, community reintegration challenges, and prison substance use treatment efficacy. His adolescent research investigates how romantic relationships shape sexual development and health-risk behaviors through peer network mechanisms.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent methodological emphasis on dynamic network modeling applied to criminological questions. His work bridges macro-level institutional analysis (prison systems) with micro-level interpersonal dynamics (romantic partnerships), demonstrating how social structures constrain and enable behavioral trajectories. Key thematic trends include the examination of gendered double standards in adolescent sexuality, the transformation of inmate social hierarchies during mass incarceration, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying desistance from crime.
His scientific recognition includes prestigious awards such as the Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholars Award from the American Society of Criminology and the William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Award. Additional honors reflect his methodological innovation and theoretical contributions:
- Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholars Award, American Society of Criminology
- William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Award
- Roy C. Buck Award for Outstanding Article by a PSU Junior Faculty Member
- Outstanding Article Award for 2006, American Society of Criminology
- First Prize, American Society of Criminology Gene Carte Student Paper Award
Kreager's research program is sustained through major external funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice, and National Institutes of Health (including NIAAA). He collaborates extensively as part of the NIH-funded PROSPER Peers research team examining adolescent social networks. His grant portfolio demonstrates consistent success in securing competitive funding for longitudinal network studies in high-impact settings including correctional facilities and school systems.
His laboratory work focuses on developing specialized methodologies for collecting social network data in constrained environments like prisons, with particular emphasis on ethical considerations and longitudinal tracking during community re-entry. Kreager actively participates in interdisciplinary research teams bridging criminology, public health, and network science to address complex societal challenges related to incarceration and adolescent development.
