Elena Tapia Godinez is a PhD student in the Department of Criminology and Criminal
Justice at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a first-generation college student and
holds a BA in Criminology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Her academic
pursuits are rooted in exploring the collateral consequences of the prison industrial complex and
how it affects the lived experiences of those who encounter it. Elena's deep belief in the
transformative power of education as a catalyst for upward mobility is a driving force behind her
research. Her current Master’s Thesis focuses on women’s educational experiences inside of prison.
The research aims to unravel whether current trends seen outside of correctional facilities, where
women are increasingly excelling in education, are mirrored within the confines of the carceral
setting. Beyond this, Elena works as the project manager for the Racial Democracy Crime and
Justice Network which brings together nearly 200 scholars of diverse backgrounds.
Racial Democracy Crime and Justice Network
Doctoral Student Elena Tapia wins ASC Division of Feminist Criminology Graduate Poster Competition
Areas of Interest
- Incarceration
- Racial Inequity
- Policy
Degrees
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Degree TypeBADegree DetailsCriminology
Awards
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2023-11-01ASC Division of Feminist Criminology Graduate Poster Competition
Conferences
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"Doing Gender, Doing Time and Doing Better: Women’s Participation in Prison Education" Poster Presented at the American Society of Criminology, Annual Meetings, Philadelphia, In Person Presentation (Session: “Poster Session II”). November 2023
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"Doing Gender, Doing Time and Doing Better: Women’s Participation in Prison Education" Poster Presented at the European Society of Criminology, 23rd Annual Conference, Italy, In Person Presentation (Session: “Poster Session”). September 2023
