PhD in Criminology, Law and Society

Chelsea Foudray, 2023

Describe your dissertation, thesis, or capstone (if you completed one):

I used a mixed-methods approach to examine the effectiveness of existing pretrial strategies to manage pretrial defendants with problematic substance use and explored the possibility of alternative strategies in a county in Indiana.

How did you choose your specific area of study?

I started working for my mentor, Dr. Evan Lowder, during my second year at GMU. At that point, I knew nothing of the pretrial system. During my time as a graduate research assistant, I became more familiar with the pretrial process and realized that it is a very interesting area where lots of advancements are made. Every project I worked on generated more questions in my mind, and I wanted to keep working to find answers to the questions I had. As such, I decided to keep studying the pretrial period.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

I believe I became a more well-rounded scholar during my time at Mason and in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. I learned from people with both professional and academic experience and I am very grateful for their insights into how my degree and research impact real-world policies.

Of which accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud?

In my first year at Mason, I helped Dr. Danielle Rudes create the first National Jails Compendium, which I am very proud to have contributed to. I also received a dissertation grant from the Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career?

All of the faculty and staff within the Criminology, Law and Society program positively impacted my experience, but Dr. Evan Lowder particularly helped me on my way. She supported me by mentoring me through my Graduate Research Assistantship and allowed me to grow as a researcher by pursuing my own academic interests and projects during my tenure as her GRA. She was always ready with words of advice and guidance for the next steps when I needed them, and helped me see my worth as a scholar.

Second, Brielle DeMatteo, CLS' Graduate Program Coordinator, also deserves recognition for her knowledge and support of all graduate students. She made sure my academic progress stayed on track and provided invaluable guidance for travel reimbursements. She is a reliable resource and will go above and beyond for people.

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

Rely on your cohort and other classmates. I never would have made it without the support of my classmates and cohort. They were available to review my work, we decompressed with fun get-togethers and made conferences way more fun. They are an amazing source of support and distraction and understand what you're going through.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

I am continuing on the research track. I recently signed on to work on a few research projects and I am excited to continue the work I started while at Mason. Long-term, I hope to continue contributing to research that makes a difference in the criminal-legal system in any possible capacity.