Yaxuan (Vicky) Li – MA Program
Where is home for you? I’m originally from Beijing, China. I attended high school in Georgia and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Washington in Seattle, where I majored in Sociology and minored in LSJ.
What draws you to criminology and criminal justice? My interest in criminology began with watching crime dramas and reading mystery novels and later grew as I became interested in understanding the reasons behind juvenile crime, homicide, and domestic violence. Growing up in both China and the United States also made me curious about how different social environments shape young people’s development and behavior.
What do you love about your graduate program here at Maryland? I really appreciate the supportive faculty and the opportunities to explore different research interests. I also enjoy learning from people who bring different perspectives and experiences to the field.
What has been unexpected? I didn’t expect graduate school to challenge me to think so differently about research. It’s been a learning experience, both academically and personally.
Outside of criminology and criminal justice, what do you do for fun? I enjoy traveling, exploring new places, visiting museums, and going to concerts and musicals.
What do you plan to do after graduate school? I hope to pursue a PhD and continue conducting research in criminology and criminal justice, particularly in areas such as juvenile delinquency, homicide, and gender-based violence. I hope my research can contribute to a better understanding of criminal behavior and inform more effective and equitable criminal justice policies.
Julieta Magud – PhD Program
Where is home for you? I am originally from Potomac, MD but I also lived in Eugene, OR for 5 years! I went to UMD for my undergraduate degree and have been in Maryland for 15 years.
What draws you to criminology and criminal justice? The field of criminology and criminal justice is full of hard-to-answer questions that have real and meaningful impacts on people’s lives. I am drawn to this field because I like trying to answer these questions and I enjoy the study of human behavior.
What do you love about your graduate program here at Maryland? I love that the graduate program at UMD involves a lot of student and faculty collaboration. I also love the community and friendships that I have made so far.
What has been unexpected? I did not expect to be able to get such unique opportunities so early in graduate school. Being at a university where such fascinating research is happening makes it easy to immerse yourself in work that interests you.
Outside of criminology and criminal justice, what do you do for fun? Outside of school, I enjoy reading, being with dogs, exercise, crafts, watching new tv shows, and seeing my friends and family.
What do you plan to do after graduate school? After graduate school, I hope to stay in academia and become a professor.
Samuel Potts – MA Program
Where is home for you? I am originally from Southern California, but I moved to Colorado when I was very young and grew up in a town called Montrose, located on the Western Slope. Eventually, I moved back to California and spent my teenage and early adult years in LA County.
What draws you to criminology and criminal justice? For me, being able to study criminology and criminal justice is a mission to understand how others behave, but also to address the inequalities that are produced within numerous parts of our society. The discipline lets me look more deeply into issues I am passionate about while also showing me how intricate our everyday interactions truly are.
What do you love about your graduate program here at Maryland? The graduate program here at Maryland breeds a driven and dedicated nature, but it also fosters an inclusive and supportive community. I love how many great minds you are surrounded by at all times and how accessible the faculty makes themselves to you as a scholar.
What has been unexpected? Coming into the program, I was expecting to learn a multitude of information, but I could never have expected to be able to soak up as much as I have. The training is extremely intentional and really pushes you to challenge yourself.
Outside of criminology and criminal justice, what do you do for fun? Outside of school, I love being outdoors, whether it's fishing or hiking a 14er or backpacking a new, unexplored area. If I'm not out in the woods, I am watching a movie on my couch or at the theatre.
What do you plan to do after graduate school? After graduate school, I hope to eventually pursue a PhD and utilize my training to work within drug policy. I would hope to work within a think tank or to be a part of projects that use harm reduction to affect how we approach substance abuse in the United States.
