Merry Morash

Merry Morash is a Professor at the School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, specializing in gender, crime, and justice. She holds a PhD (1978) and MSW (1970) from the University of Maryland, and a BA (1968) from Mount Holyoke College.

• PhD, University of Maryland (1978)
• MSW, University of Maryland (1970)
• BA, Mount Holyoke College (1968)

Her research spans women's experiences in the juvenile justice system, battered women's migration, police occupational stress, and gender-responsive corrections. Current projects examine identity transformation in parolees, funded by the National Science Foundation. Recent publications explore neoliberal policy impacts on mass supervision and economic marginalization's role in recidivism.

Key trends in her 2021-2025 work include trauma-informed corrections, gender dynamics in parole interactions, and socioeconomic barriers to reentry. Her interdisciplinary approach combines criminology, psychology, and social work methodologies.

• Distinguished Scholar Award (2007), American Society of Criminology (ASC)
• Fellow (2008), ASC
• Lifelong Achievement Award (2018), Division on People of Color and Crime
• Outstanding Mentor Award (ACJS)

With over 20 dissertation advisees, her mentorship has earned recognition from ASC and ACJS. Research grants span NSF, National Institute of Justice, and Michigan Department of Corrections. She collaborates with Dr. Soma Chaudhuri on cross-cultural NGO impact studies in India.