The Research and Evaluation Center has employed many part-time and temporary team members who were graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees from John Jay College, the City University of New York, and other academic institutions. They worked with the full-time staff of the Center, helping us to complete various research and evaluation projects. Students developed research and data analytical skills while informing and enhancing our work with their backgrounds, knowledge, and experience. (The biographical summaries below were current as of 2025.)
Student Researchers at JohnJayREC
Future of Public Safety Fellowship
The Future of Public Safety Scholars program provides undergraduate students at John Jay College with work experiences and scholarship skills to prepare them for careers reshaping policy and programs that support healthy, safe, and racially just communities. The program engages students in the ongoing work of faculty and staff while helping them to develop a deeper understanding of the work involved in achieving lasting system reform. The FPS Scholars program began in 2024 and is scheduled to continue.
 Antonio E. Ortiz worked with the Research and Evaluation Center in 2025 through the sponsorship of John Jay College’s first cohort of Future of Public Safety Scholars. He is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and was a second-year undergraduate focused on criminal justice. |
Summer Youth Employment Program
Undergraduate students, or even recent high school graduates heading to college, can work at the Research and Evaluation Center through New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Beginning in 2025, students partnered with the full-time staff and graduate students by entering quantitative data and preparing qualitative data for use in Center deliverables.
 Matthew Triano was a research intern for the summer of 2025, working on data preparation and analysis for the Center’s evaluation of violence prevention in New York City. He was a fourth-year undergraduate at Lehman College in the City University of New York, studying computer information systems. He is a proud son of the Bronx. |
 Mohammed Abdullah was a research intern in the summer of 2025. His undergraduate work at Queens College concentrates on economics and using data to drive positive changes in underserved communities. His previous experience included youth mentorship and community engagement, and he is eager to expand his knowledge of policy, evaluation, and the justice system. |
Graduate Research Fellowships
Many graduate students have collaborated with full-time staff on JohnJayREC projects funded by our partners in federal, state, and local government, as well as philanthropies. For example, funding from the New York City government, Arnold Ventures, the National League of Cities, and foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation supported the work of students from various disciplines.
Funding from Susan and Jack Rudin allowed JohnJayREC to launch the Rudin Research Partnership, which supported Graduate Research Fellows until 2015 in their collaborations with staff helping organizations affiliated with justice systems in New York City and New York State. Between 2012 and approximately 2016, the Pinkerton Foundation supported the efforts of graduate students serving as Pinkerton Research Fellows. Many of those students went on to become professional researchers and full-time faculty members in criminology and the social sciences.
From 2018 to 2020, the Maxfield Graduate Research Fellowship supported Ph.D. students enrolled in the Criminal Justice Doctoral Program at John Jay College who could use the funds to prepare and present research findings at academic and professional conferences focused on policing and law enforcement, criminology, criminal justice, and related matters.
Our funding partners — especially those from the philanthropic sector — enabled JohnJayREC to create the Evidence Generation initiative, which provides essential research and evaluation supports for justice-related agencies and service providers.
Graduate Research Fellows: 2008-2025
 Elia Solano-Patricio joined JohnJayREC as a Graduate Research Fellow in 2024-2025 after working as a research associate at Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute, a think tank collaboration with the Brookings Institution. She earned a B.Sc. from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and was working toward a Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY Graduate Center. |
 Justice Evans was a Graduate Research Fellow in 2024-2025 while working on a Ph.D. at John Jay College/CUNY Graduate Center. A graduate of Old Dominion University, Justice worked as a court advocate and mitigation specialist and held a research fellowship at the Vera Institute of Justice. |
 Laurae Caruth was a Graduate Research Fellow in 2023-2024. A graduate of Syracuse University with an M.S. from Fordham University and J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, she was pursuing a Ph.D. at the CUNY Graduate Center/John Jay College. Laurae was a prosecutor in the criminal and juvenile systems before transitioning to legal executive/administrative roles. |
 Katheryne Pugliese was a Graduate Research Fellow with JohnJayREC in 2022-2023 during her Ph.D. program at John Jay College and the CUNY Graduate Center. She is a graduate of Skidmore College and earned a Master’s degree in Policy and Communication Analysis from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. |
 Sumita Das was a Graduate Research Fellow in 2023 while pursuing the Ph.D. at John Jay College/CUNY Graduate Center. Previously, she was a Graduate Research Associate with Arnold Ventures. She graduated from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology and holds Masters degrees from MICA and New York University. |
 Dr. Diba Rouzbahani was a Rudin Research Fellow in the Research and Evaluation Center before working at Arnold Ventures and later joining the Justice Information Resource Network while completing a Ph.D. at the CUNY Graduate Center. She previously earned an M.A. from Rutgers University. |
 Dr. Lidia Vásquez was a Rudin Research Fellow with the John Jay Research and Evaluation Center during her time working toward the Ph.D. at John Jay College/Graduate Center of CUNY. Her research focused on undocumented immigration, forced displacement, violence, and social development policy. |
 Dr. Paul Odér was a Graduate Research Fellow with JohnJayREC and a lecturer at John Jay College before joining the faculty at Eastern Illinois University. He earned a BSAS in forensic science from Youngstown State University with a minor in chemistry and a concentration in forensic anthropology. |
 Dr. Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill is a faculty member at Arizona State University. After a Graduate Research Fellowship, he held several positions with JohnJayREC while finishing a Ph.D. and before serving as Director of Research and Data Analytics at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. He holds a J.D. from Emory University and B.S. from Tuskegee University. |
 Dr. Emily Pelletier is a member of the faculty at Queensborough Community College. Before earning the CUNY Ph.D., she worked at the National Juvenile Defender Center and the Children’s Defense Fund. A graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, she holds a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law and an M.P.P.M. from the University of Southern Maine. |
 Dr. Jennifer Peirce is a Senior Research Associate at the Vera Institute of Justice. She came to John Jay for a Ph.D. after working at the Inter-American Development Bank and with NGOs in Canada, Latin America, and West Africa. She holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Carleton University and a B.A. in International Development and Spanish from Dalhousie University. |
 Dr. Shun Feng is Principal Associate at the Pew Charitable Trusts. He was a Graduate Research Fellow in 2017-2019 as a Ph.D student at John Jay College/CUNY. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he previously served as a police intern for the Prince George’s County (MD) Police Department. |
 Sebastian Hoyos-Torres is Assistant Director of Analytics for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. He was a Graduate Research Fellow as a Ph.D student at John Jay College/CUNY. He graduated from Le Moyne College in criminology and criminal justice with a minor in psychology. |
 Dr. Angela Silletti is a faculty member at St. Francis College. She was a Graduate Research Fellow while a Ph.D. student at John Jay College/CUNY. Her previous positions included New Jersey’s Parole Board and Department of Corrections. Her research focus included corrections, specifically policies related to elderly offenders and end-of-life care. |
 Dr. Victor St. John is a faculty member at Ohio State University and a senior researcher at Child Trends in Washington, DC. Previously, he was on the faculty of St. Louis University. Before the Research and Evaluation Center, he worked at New York City’s Board of Correction. He earned the Ph.D. at John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Yuchen Hou was a Graduate Research Fellow in 2017 before joining the New Media Lab at CUNY. He earned a Master’s Degree in Procedural Law at People’s Public Security University of China in 2015 after graduating from Criminal Investigation Police University of China in 2012. |
 Dr. Leevia Dillon was a Graduate Research Fellow in the Research and Evaluation Center in 2017. Leevia’s research focused on violent extremism, online radicalization, risk/threat assessment, and deviance. She graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2013. |
 Dr. Megan O’Toole is Deputy Director of Research with Everytown for Gun Safety in New York. Previously, she was a research associate at the Vera Institute of Justice and a Graduate Research Fellow in the Research and Evaluation Center. Megan is a graduate of Wheaton College, and she holds a Ph.D. in psychology and law from the City University of New York. |
 Dr. Chunrye Kim is a tenured faculty member at Saint Joseph’s University. From 2014 to 2016, she served as the managing editor of the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, then housed at JohnJayREC. She graduated from Chung-Ang University and earned the Ph.D. at John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. Pamela Ruiz earned the Ph.D. at John Jay College and was a Fulbright Scholar studying gang violence in El Salvador. Previously, she was senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. She earned a B.A. in Cognitive Psychology and Chicano/Latino/a Studies and an M.A. in Social Science in Demography and Social Analysis from the University of California, Irvine. |
 Dr. Marissa Mandala is an agent with the U.S. Secret Service and previously was a research scientist with the New York City Police Department. She was a Graduate Research Fellow from 2013 to 2016 while working on the Ph.D. at John Jay College. She graduated from the University of Southern California and holds an MA from the University of Pennsylvania. |
 Dr. Maggie Schmuhl is a tenured faculty member at SUNY Oswego. She was a Graduate Fellow at the Research and Evaluation Center in 2014 and 2015 and also taught in John Jay College’s Law and Police Science and Mathematics and Computer Science departments. She graduated from the University of New Haven. |
 Sarah Ward is Strategic Data Analyst at New York County District Attorney’s Office. She was a Graduate Research Fellow with JohnJayREC from 2013 to 2015, after serving as a research assistant on several projects with another center at John Jay. Sarah holds a B.S. from Bridgewater State University and M.A. from John Jay College. |
 Dr. Michelle Cubellis is a tenured faculty member at Central Connecticut State University. She was a JohnJayREC Graduate Research Fellow from 2012 to 2014. She graduated with honors in criminal justice and history at Bridgewater State College before earning the Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. LaTifa T. Fletcher is a developmental psychologist and qualitative researcher. She was a Graduate Research Fellow from 2012 to 2014 and later manager of a McNulty Scholars program at Hunter College. She graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, holds an MA in forensic psychology from John Jay College and Ph.D. from the CUNY Graduate Center. |
 Dr. Alana Henninger is Director of Justice and Victim Services Research and Evaluation at ICF, a global consulting company. Before ICF, she was a researcher with the Research Triangle Institute and Johns Hopkins University. She was a JohnJayREC Graduate Research Fellow in 2012-2013. A graduate of York College of Pennsylvania, she earned the Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. Bryce Peterson is Senior Research Scientist in Justice Research and Innovation at CNA Corporation. He was a JohnJayREC Graduate Research Fellow in 2012-2013 and later a principal research associate at the Urban Institute. After graduating with honors in criminal justice from California State University, Long Beach, he earned the Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. Jennifer Pipitone is a tenured faculty member at the University of Mount Saint Vincent. She was a JohnJayREC Graduate Research Fellow in 2012-2014 before receiving the Ph.D. in environmental psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center. Jennifer graduated in psychology/environmental studies from Loyola University. |
 Dr. Jennifer Ortiz is a tenured faculty member in the Department of Criminology at The College of New Jersey. She was a JohnJayREC Graduate Research Fellow in 2010-2012 while working on the Ph.D. at John Jay College/CUNY Graduate Center. She Jennifer also earned the B.Sc., M.A., and M.Phil from John Jay College. |
 Dr. Cassandra Ramdath is the Director Of Research and Evaluation at the Center for Innovations in Community Safety, Georgetown Law. Previously, she was a researcher at the Urban Institute, the New York City Board of Correction, and the Center for Court Innovation. She graduated from the University of Ottawa and earned the Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. Kendra Gentry is a faculty member in sociology and criminal justice at Texas A&M University-Commerce. A graduate of the University of Florida, she earned the Ph.D. from John Jay College and holds an M.S. in criminology from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she was a reporter for news organizations in Alabama, Florida, and Pennsylvania. |
 Dr. Seokhee Yoon is Lead Data Analyst for Grab in Singapore. She was a Graduate Research Fellow in 2010 and worked with youth and family justice services in New York City government. She is a graduate of Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul, Korea and holds a masters degree in criminology from the University of Pennsylvania. |
 Tarra Jackson was a Graduate Research Fellow from 2008 to 2010. She worked on a range of projects, including an evaluation of case processing for domestic violence cases and technical assistance efforts for the Police Athletic League’s Youth Link program. Tarra graduated from Howard University before earning a Masters in criminal justice at John Jay College. |
 Dr. Andrea Cantora is a tenured faculty member at the University of Baltimore. She was a Graduate Research Fellow as a CUNY Ph.D. student before joining the Center on Sentencing and Corrections at the Vera Institute of Justice. She graduated from Seton Hall University and earned the Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. Gipsy Escobar is Vice President of Product and Design at Measures for Justice. She was a Graduate Fellow with JohnJayREC before joining the criminal justice faculty at Loyola University of Chicago. She is a graduate of Universidad de Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia) and earned the Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. Christopher Fisher is Senior Vice President of Public Safety Innovation and Research at Senior Advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice and Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Police Department. He graduated from the University of Virginia and earned the Ph.D. from John Jay College/CUNY. |
 Dr. Jessica Saunders oversees the Research Division at the CSG Justice Center. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, she was a policy researcher at RAND Corporation and an assistant professor at Arizona State University. She received the Ph.D. in criminal justice from John Jay College/CUNY. |