Dr. Sperry is the Research Director at the Maryland Crime Research and Innovation Center (MCRIC), where she supervises a team of staff and embedded analysts working with the Prince George's County Police Department and the Baltimore City Police Department. Dr. Sperry is responsible for securing and managing research grants, overseeing and supporting the execution of applied research projects, disseminating research findings through academic publications and professional networks, assisting with organizational operations and strategic planning, and building and expanding partnerships with state agencies, community organizations, and key stakeholders across Maryland. 

Dr. Sperry earned her Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2025. She is a mixed-methods researcher whose independent work primarily focuses on evidence-based policing, police-community relations, and community violence reduction. 

She has extensive experience collaborating with police departments and criminal justice organizations at the local and national levels. Prior to her role at MCRIC, she has worked with the University of Maryland's Violence Reduction Center, the Crime and Justice Institute, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and Choice Research Associates, where she serves as a research consultant.