Currently, my academic interest and area of research revolve around wrongful convictions. Particularly, the aftermath of wrongful convictions and how these injustices negatively affect exonerees as they attempt to rebuild their lives post-release.
I chose to pursue my studies at GMU:
1. because of how prestigious the criminology program is here and
2. because of Dr. Robert Norris and his expertise and dedication to innocence/wrongful convictions research. George Mason is becoming the hub for wrongful convictions research in the United States and I am extremely proud to be a part of it.
Dr. Robert Norris, Dr. Allison Redlich, Dr. Janani Umamaheswar, and Dr. Jin Lee have all made tremendous impacts on my career thus far at Mason. They have all helped me in ways that have helped me grow not only as a scholar, but as a person pursuing a career in academia.
I hope to become a professor at an R2 or teaching focused university where I can focus primarily on teaching and continue my research on wrongful convictions.
The Dean's Challenge scholarship contributes substantially to my studies by providing funding for educational and research related expenses not covered by other grants and scholarships.