CCJS Doctoral Candidate Gabrielle Wy was named the winner of the Dr. James W. Longest Memorial Award for Social Science Research by the UMD Graduate school for AY 2023-2024.

The award, established by Mary Jack Wintle (Mrs. James W. Longest), honors the memory and outstanding personal and professional achievements of Dr. James W. Longest. It provides $2,000 to support doctoral dissertation research in the social sciences with potential benefits for small and/or disadvantaged communities.

Wy’s dissertation focuses on the cultural contexts which may shape migrant youth’s anti-social behavior.

Using the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, she investigates how neighborhood cultural heterogeneity may predict differential offending outcomes for migrant youth, and further explores whether second generation youth may be particularly susceptible to criminogenic risk factors given their unique cultural position of being ‘between-worlds.’

Wy thanks her dissertation advisor Dr. Wade Jacobsen for his time, guidance, and support, as well as her dissertation committee members who have provided invaluable feedback on the project: Dr. Bianca Bersani, Dr. María Vélez, Dr. Lauren Porter, and Dr. Sophia Rodriguez. She is incredibly thankful to the Graduate School for considering her for the award.

Read more about the Dr. James W. Longest Memorial Award and the UMD Graduate School Awards.