Rachel Ellis

Rachel Ellis is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on women's experiences of punishment in the U.S., employing qualitative methods like ethnography and interviews to explore themes of race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion in carceral contexts. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as MA and BA degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, respectively.

Ellis's current projects include a Russell Sage-funded study on women’s lived experiences on probation and an interview-based examination of women's reentry after incarceration. Her 2023 book, *In This Place Called Prison: Women's Religious Life in the Shadow of Punishment*, analyzes how religion shapes freedom and constraint within prisons. Recent publications address topics such as desistance narratives, maternal incarceration impacts, and the porous nature of prison institutions.

Her teaching includes courses like *CCJS342 Corrections* and *CCJS418C Gender and Crime*, reflecting her commitment to integrating research into pedagogy. Ellis advises three current graduate students and has contributed to prominent journals in criminology and sociology. Her work bridges sociological theory with empirical research on criminal justice systems and gendered inequality.