MA in Criminology, Law and Society

Lindsay Smith, 2020

Tell us about your thesis project:

My thesis pertained to the perceptual needs of women jail residents before, during, and after incarceration via qualitative interviews. 

My dissertation project explores the perceived quality of various forms of communication methods that women jail residents use to connect with their external social networks and the subsequent impact that this contact has on the quality of those relationships. I work with Dr. Danielle Rudes and our gracious jail partner.

Why did you choose the MA/PhD program at Mason? 

I chose the CLS MA/PhD program at Mason because of the immediate personal connections I made with professors I talked to during the selection process. They made me feel at home before I ever joined the department and made me excited about the work I would be doing here!

What was the most rewarding experience for you during your time in the program?

The most rewarding experience I’ve had since coming to Mason has been joining the Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence (SAIV) task force as a graduate student member. To be able to volunteer on a university committee made up of administrators pursuing the eradication of sexual violence on our campus has not only been meaningful, but essential.

What accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud of?

I am most proud of earning my Master of Arts degree in CLS and earning the Graduate Student Service Award. I have found that combining research endeavors and serving others is possible, and I love it!

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?

My advice is to explore topics you never thought would interest you as they may turn into your passion project, or better yet, what you research for the next several decades.