We are pleased to welcome Dr. Alexa Singer as the new Director of Undergraduate Program and lecturer at the University of Maryland’s Shady Grove campus, effective August 23rd.

Dr. Alexa Singer earned her Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida State University in 2019. Prior to joining the University of Maryland’s Shady Grove campus, she served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Western Carolina University and most recently worked as a Research Associate at the Justice Information Resource Network (JIRN) in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Singer’s research has focused on local jails, including jail reentry, behavioral health, substance use, and the implementation of reentry and treatment programs. She has conducted qualitative and quantitative research with incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, program administrators, prosecutors, and other criminal justice stakeholders. As a faculty member at Western Carolina University, she conducted research on topics including medication-assisted treatment in jails and prisons, substance use disorder, and barriers to reentry. She also taught undergraduate criminal justice courses, was an academic advisor, and served as the Criminal Justice Club faculty advisor.

More recently, at the Justice Information Resource Network (JIRN), Dr. Singer led the Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Center and contributed to several large-scale research and evaluation projects. Her work at JIRN included developing the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Survey of State Parole Agencies on Reentry Services (SSPARS), evaluating flexible funding models at domestic violence organizations, and conducting qualitative research as part of a national evaluation of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Her experience in higher education, student advising, and applied research has allowed her to work closely with students, practitioners, and researchers across a range of criminal justice settings.