People

Leadership Team

Jeffrey A. Butts, Director of the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. His work focuses on policies and programs for at-risk and disconnected youth, especially those involved with the justice system. Previously, he was a research fellow with Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and director of the Program on Youth Justice at the Urban Institute in Washington, DC. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Oregon and he earned the Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Publications
head_delgado_2017Sheyla Delgado, Deputy Director for Analytics in the Research and Evaluation Center. Before joining the Center staff in 2013, she was a Rudin Fellow in Applied Justice Research. She works on projects focused on violence and leads the Center’s evaluation of Cure Violence in New York. Sheyla graduated from Florida State University in 2008 with a B.A. in criminology and a B.A. in international affairs, and she earned the M.A. in criminal justice from John Jay College in 2013. Publications
head_evans_2017_2Douglas Evans, Senior Investigator with the Research and Evaluation Center and adjunct professor at John Jay. He has also taught in the New York State and New Jersey correctional systems through Hudson Link for Higher Education and the New Jersey Transformation Education in Prisons Consortium. His work focuses on criminal stigma that the formerly incarcerated experience in housing and social networking, the effects of higher education in prison, the consequences of incarceration for public health and family stability, and evaluation of alternatives to incarceration for youth and adults. Doug earned the Ph.D. at Indiana University–Bloomington. Publications
head_ramdeen_2017_2Rhoda Ramdeen, Chief of Operations for the Research and Evaluation Center. Prior to joining the Center staff in 2010, she was an assistant to the director of the Business and Finance Department at John Jay College. Before that, she held positions with the Nassau County (NY) Court, the New York State Assembly, and New York City’s Investigation, Revenue & Enforcement Administration. Rhoda graduated from John Jay College with a BA in forensic psychology and she earned a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from John Jay with a concentration in human resources management.
head_tomberg_2017Kathleen Tomberg, Deputy Director for Strategy and the IRB Officer (Institutional Review Board) for the Research and Evaluation Center. Previously, she worked on an evaluation of a therapeutic program for incarcerated adolescents, the creation of a youth reentry directory, and the study of sexual abuse of minors within the Catholic Church. Kathy is a graduate of Furman University and she earned the masters in forensic mental health counseling from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Publications

Faculty Fellows

head_kazemian2017Lila Kazemian is a graduate of Université de Montréal in Canada, and she earned the Ph.D. in criminology at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. She joined the sociology faculty of John Jay College in 2006 after completing a post-doctoral fellowship funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC, UK). Her research interests include life-course and criminal career research, desistance from crime, offender reentry, and comparative criminology. Publications
head_wolff_2017_2Kevin Wolff is chief methodologist in the Research and Evaluation Center and a faculty member in the Department of Criminal Justice at John Jay College. His interests include the spatial patterning of crime, criminological theory, quantitative methods and juvenile justice. Another area of work focuses on factors affecting changing crime rates in the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Wolff received the Ph.D. from the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University. Publications

Senior Staff

head_blounthill_2017_2Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill, Senior Research Associate with the Research and Evaluation Center and a Ph.D. student in the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is a former police officer for the City of Charleston and a public safety officer/firefighter for the City of Cayce in South Carolina. Kwan graduated from Tuskegee University and he earned a Juris Doctor from Emory Law. He is an attorney licensed in South Carolina, New Jersey and Georgia. Publications
head_stjohn_2017Victor St. John, Senior Research Associate is pursuing a Ph.D. and serves as an adjunct instructor in the sociology department at John Jay College. Previously, he conducted psychotherapy as a cognitive behavioral facilitator on Rikers Island in conjunction with the nation’s first test of social impact bonds. He also held direct care and supervisory positions in juvenile facilities under New York’s “Close to Home” initiative. Victor graduated with a BS in criminology from the State University of New York at Old Westbury and he earned the M.A. in criminal justice at John Jay College. Publications
head_szkola_2017Jay Szkola, Senior Research Associate in the Research and Evaluation Center and a criminal justice policy, oversight, and administration Ph.D. student at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York/John Jay College. Previously, he worked as an internal evaluation researcher for youth development and youth justice programs with Good Shepherd Services and the Police Athletic League. Jay graduated with a B.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in Philosophy from Northeastern University, and he earned an MSW from New York University.
head_vega_2017Anthony Vega, Senior Research Analyst for the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. His work focuses on the intersection between the criminal justice system, sexuality, and gender. Previously, he was an instructor and research assistant for Washington State University and a research intern for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Anthony graduated from Humboldt State University with a B.A in sociology and earned a M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University.

Research Staff

head_alawlaqi_head_2Wogod Alawlaqi is a research coordinator at the Research and Evaluation Center. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies from New York City College of Technology. In the past, Wogod worked with Middle Eastern women and domestic violence at Tamkeen, a nonprofit organization. She also worked for immigration attorneys in assistant immigrants immigration procedures from Mexico and the Middle East. She wants to pursue a career in immigration and help immigrants assimilate into the American lifestyle.
head_alexander_2017Nicole Marie Alexander is a research coordinator in the Research and Evaluation Center. She graduated from the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies undergraduate program in May 2014 where her areas of concentration were social problems and justice research. During her undergraduate degree she was a New York Needs You Fellow, McNair Scholar, Pinkerton Fellow and an E.L.L.A (engage lead learn act) fellow with the Sadie Nash Leadership project. Since graduating she worked on criminal justice issues at a research non-profit and she hopes to switch her focus from research to journalism. Publications
head_alsabahi_2017_2Laila Alsabahi is a research analyst at the Research and Evaluation Center. Her previous work included projects on gun violence, drug use, and inter-generational conflicts. Laila graduated with a B.A in Culture and Deviance Studies and a minor in Gender Studies from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She recently started a master’s degree in Urban Policy at the New School. Publications
head_balletto_2017Rebecca Balletto is a researcher and contract specialist at the Research and Evaluation Center. Duties include managing subcontractors for the NYC Mayor’s Action Plan project. Previously, she was involved in the evaluation of a program aimed at generating cognitive and behavioral change in adolescents detained on Rikers Island. Rebecca received a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from The University of Liverpool, England and a Masters in Criminal Justice at John Jay College.
head_banks_2017Justice A. Banks is a seasoned social worker and researcher. He has over 25 years of experience working with diverse populations. Previously, he was the director of a non-profit harm reduction agency in the Bronx and a social worker with a public human services agency. He was also a supervising research associate with the Research and Evaluation Center’s 4-year evaluation of the Cure Violence model in New York City. Justice holds a masters degree from the University of Chicago.
head_camacho_2017Anjelica-Maria Camacho is a research coordinator at the Research and Evaluation Center. Her previous work included projects on youth justice, drugs, gun-violence, and the intersection of crime and race. Anjelica graduated from John Jay with a Masters in Criminal Justice with dual concentrations in criminology & deviance and terrorism studies. She currently teaches Sex and Culture 210 and Drug use and Abuse 110 in the Anthropology Department at John Jay College.
head_cobar_2017Patricia Cobar is a research coordinator in the Research and Evaluation Center. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has extensive experience in child care and helped collect school supplies for underprivileged children in Honduras. Patricia participated in multiple running marathons to raise thousands of dollars for Autism Research. Publications
head_espinobarraos_2017Richard Espinobarros is a research analyst with the Research & Evaluation Center where he works on the evaluation of Cure Violence in New York City. Previously, he worked at the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts. Richard graduated from John Jay College with a B.A in criminology and minor in psychology.
head_henry_2017_2Arlana K. Henry is a research associate with the Research and Evaluation Center. She has worked on quantitative and qualitative research projects focused on incarceration, immigration, neighborhood violence and crime, and mental health. She previously worked as a research assistant at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and served with AmeriCorps at New American Pathways and Fugees Family in Atlanta. Arlana graduated with a B.S. in crime, law and deviance (now criminology) and a minor in sociology from The Pennsylvania State University and she earned the M.A. in sociology from the University of Georgia.
head_hoyos_2017Sebastian Hoyos-Torres is a graduate research fellow with the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice at John Jay. He earned a B.A. in criminology and criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Le Moyne College.
head_ryan_2017Robert A. Ryan is a graduate research fellow in the Research and Evaluation Center where he is working on a project for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Previously, his research focused on psychopathology and evolutionary biology. He earned the B.S. in biology and psychology from Loyola University of Maryland and he is currently pursuing a Masters in Criminal Justice at John Jay College with a focus on law and terrorism.
head_silletti_2017Angela Silletti is a graduate research fellow in the Research and Evaluation Center and a Ph.D. student in the Graduate Center of the City University of New York/ John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has previous research experience with the New Jersey State Parole Board and the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Her research interests include corrections, specifically policies related to elderly offenders and end of life care.