Gemma Cadenaro

Thesis: "Military Service, Combat Exposure, and Post-Service Arrest in All-Volunteer Force Veteran"

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: After graduation, I plan to work in the national security space, either for a government contractor or the federal government. I anticipate working for a few years and would then like to pursue a PhD researching political violence.

“Participating in the honors program was both incredibly challenging and rewarding. This experience provided me with an invaluable support network, allowed me to pursue research in a topic that I am passionate about, and helped me develop skills necessary for my future career.”

Jane Goldsmith

Thesis: “Examining the Efficacy of Sexual Assault Prevention Programming in Greek Life”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: After graduation, I will be pursuing a PsyD in Clinical Psychology and a masters in Criminal Justice at Widener University.

“The experience I had in the CCJS Honors Program is something I will never forget and am extremely grateful for. The support from my advisor, TAs, and peers allowed me to challenge myself and I am looking forward to applying what I have learned in this program towards the rest of my academic and professional career.”

Emilia Heintz

Thesis: “Analyzing Arrest Rates in Washington D.C. Neighborhoods with Emergency Homeless Shelters”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: I am currently looking for a job in the legal field as a paralegal or legal assistant to gain experience before applying to law school.

Tara Kelly

Thesis: “The Importance of Mental Health Treatment: Mental Illness and Justice System Involvement Among Justice-Involved Youth”

Public Dissemination: Poster

Post-Grad Plans: I will be attending George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School in the fall to obtain my J.D. and pursue a career in public interest law

“The CCJS Honors Program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my undergraduate career. I’ve loved having the opportunity to study my own interests while forming relationships with my peers and professors. I am very grateful for the way it fostered my passion for criminology and gave me invaluable skills to take with me after graduation.”

Nicole Meza

Thesis: “From Prohibition to Legalization: Examining the Association Between Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Changes in Drug Seizure Rates”

Public Dissemination: Poster

Post-Grad Plans: After graduation, I plan to work for a year before applying to law school.

“The honors program was an incredibly unique and rewarding experience. I am very grateful for all of the connections and skills that I have gotten out of the program. I am looking forward to applying everything that I learned throughout the past two years into both my personal and professional life.”

Bronwyn Morris

Thesis: “Examining Within-Neighborhood Changes in Concentrated Disadvantage’s Correlation with Homicide Rates by Census Tracts in Washington, DC”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: After graduation, Bronwyn will be pursuing a Master of Science degree in Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy at American University.

Sonyah Ngwafang

Thesis: “Silent Struggles: Examining Racial Disparities in Mental Health Treatment for Justice-Involved Individuals”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: After graduation, Sonyah will continue working at the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention & Policy (Data & Research Division) before pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Jacqueline Penna

Thesis: “Conformity or Rebellion? Childhood Religious Environments and Future Delinquency”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: After graduation, I plan to move to the D.C. area and take a gap year working for a federal government agency. During this time, I aim to gain professional experience before pursuing a master’s degree in a criminal justice-related field, potentially in forensic psychology or criminal investigations.

“The CCJS Honors Program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my undergraduate career. It allowed me to explore a topic I care deeply about while growing both as a researcher and a writer. I’m incredibly thankful for the support of Dr. Jacobsen, Sylvia, and my amazing cohort, who offered constant encouragement and made this experience genuinely unforgettable!”

Anna Petersen

Thesis: “The Association Between Ghost Gun Usage and Neighborhood Disadvantage”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: Anna has accepted a full-time position with the Department of Justice. In the long term, she plans to continue to exercise research skills and work towards a career as an intelligence analyst.

Ever Sheplee

Thesis: “Pushed Out: Analyzing Academic Achievement and the School-to-Prison Pipeline”

Public Dissemination: Poster

Post-Grad Plans: I will be moving to Brooklyn to teach for two years through Teach For America! I hope to gain more knowledge about our education systems and how they impact youth. Afterward, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in criminology and eventually become a professor.

“The Honors Program allowed me to surround myself with forward-thinking people and collaborate to conduct research I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do. I am forever grateful for the opportunity and all the knowledge and skills I developed along the way.”

Karilyn Shin

Thesis: “Adolescent Police Stop Invasiveness, Legal Cynicism, and Criminal Involvement in Adulthood”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: I am taking a gap year to gain work experience, ideally as a paralegal, while also preparing for the LSAT. My goal is to attend law school in Maryland or DC to specialize in criminal law.

Cydney Simmons

Thesis: “Beyond the Classroom: Examining the Associations of Skin Tone and Suspension with Arrest Among Black Girls”

Public Dissemination: Coming Soon

Post-Grad Plans: Upon graduating, Cydney will be continuing her education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore to pursue her Master's in Social Work with a clinical concentration.

“I am so incredibly grateful to have been apart of this program! The honors program played a major hand in providing me with the critical thinking, research, and writing skills I need for my next steps. I will always remember my time in the honors program as a challenging but rewarding period of my academic career that has strengthened me professionally and personally.”