About us / People / Graduate students

Sheena Bala is a third year doctoral student. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY and a Master of Arts degree in Criminology & Justice from St. John’s University in Queens, NY. Sheena has been a research and teaching assistant at both universities, as well as an adjunct instructor at St. John’s University.  She has also interned at The Fortune Society in New York, a nonprofit organization that supports the successful reentry of ex-offenders from prison and promotes alternatives to incarceration, teaching an introductory mathematics class. She is currently a teaching assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice at Temple University. She can be reached at sheena.bala@temple.edu.

Brandy Blasko is a fifth year doctoral student. She received her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Administration of Justice from the University of Pittsburgh and her M.A. in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Brandy is currently working on her dissertation titled The Uncharted Influence of Prison Staff Decisionmaking. Her committee members are Ralph B. Taylor (chair), M. Kay Harris, and Caterina Roman. Brandy’s research focuses on discretion and decisionmaking in criminal justice. Brandy is also interested in developing empirical evidence for use in prison policies, translating sex offender research findings to policy, perceptions of treatment from the viewpoint of people who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, and developing empirical evidence for use in gang prevention.

Joseph A. DaGrossa is a resident of southern New Jersey, pursuing the PhD. He possesses an M.S. degree in Criminal Justice from St. Joseph's University and an M.A. degree in Clinical/Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University. He is currently employed as a U.S. Probation Officer for the District of New Jersey and in 2005 was named the district's Probation Officer of the Year. He has previously worked as a probation officer for the state of New Jersey and for the state's Intensive Supervision Program and has held adjunct teaching positions at Camden County College and Atlantic Cape Community College. Joe's research interests include program evaluation and the development of outcome-based measurements for use in community corrections settings. Joe can be reached at jdagrossa@verizon.net.

Aaron is a third year PhD student originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin-Wallace College where he majored in psychology and criminal justice. He also holds a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University where he majored in the administration of justice, and began his interest in crime mapping, policing, and crime analysis. Before coming to Temple, he worked for nearly two years as an intelligence analyst for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. After previously serving as a researcher on the Philadelphia CCTV Evaluation, Aaron is currently the primary instructor for the undergraduate Introduction to Law Enforcement course at Temple. His current research interests include the geospatial dynamics of crime and crime analysis.

Ida Goldkorn is a second year graduate student pursuing a PhD in Criminal Justice at Temple University. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Ida grew up in Israel, and moved to California in 2007. She was awarded a BA in Sociology and Philosophy (Public Policy Emphasis) from UC Santa Barbara in 2010. Her research interests include pretrial detention, bail reform, and racial disparity in the criminal justice system. Ida is the 2010 recipient of the Joan McCord Award.

Scott is an advanced doctoral student.  Prior to entering Temple University, Scott worked as a criminal justice practitioner for 20 years.  He spent 16 years as a corrections professional and 4 years as a clerk for a federal judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  During his correctional career, Scott served time as a county probation and parole officer, and as both the Deputy Warden and Warden at Northampton County Prison (Pennsylvania).  Scott has also served as a consultant for the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) since 2002.  With the NIC, Scott specializes in assisting jails in the development of objective inmate classification systems, and in the control of problematic behavior.  He has provided services to over 150 jails in the United States.  Scott is also currently the PI for two research grants he received through the National Institute of Corrections. 

Ingrid Johnson is a second year doctoral student. She received her BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 2010. After her undergraduate studies she spent a year working at a residential treatment center for teenagers with behavioral issues in Fairbanks. She moved to Philadelphia to join Temple's graduate program, where she hopes to focus her research on the criminal justice system's response to drug abuse and domestic violence in rural areas. She is currently working as a Research Assistant for a project examining the Philadelphia Adult Probation and Parole Department's process for assessing, referring, and monitoring probationers with substance abuse treatment needs. She can be contacted at ingrid.johnson@temple.edu.

Joyce, Nola

Nola Joyce has worked in public safety for over twenty-five years.  She joined the Philadelphia Police Department in February 2008 and is currently the ChiefAdministrative Officer for the Department.  In that capacity she works closely with the Police Commissioner in developing strategic plans, policy and new programs. She heads the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation.   She has lead research endeavors and change initiatives for the Illinois Department of Correction, Chicago Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C, and the Philadelphia Police Department.  She served on the Washington, D.C. Sentencing Commission and was a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s Task Force studying the nexus between drugs and crime. Ms. Joyce holds three master’s degrees. Her most current master’s degree is in Homeland Defense and Security from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. She has two masters' degrees from Southern Illinois University were she earned an M.S. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy, with a specialization in public finance, and an M.A. in Sociology with a specialization in research methodology and statistics.

Minkyung Kim is in her third year in the Ph.D program.   Minkyung earned her Master’s Degree in Sociology from Korea University in 2008 and Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Duksung Women’s University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, in 2006. She has done research in the area of deterrence theory (especially, the effect of informal sanctions) and cross-national comparative study concerning the positive influence of on ratification of the U.N Convention Against Torture (CAT).   Minkyung has also worked at the Korean Institute of Criminology as an Intern Researcher. Her research interests include criminal policy, testing of criminological theory, alternative formal sanctions, restorative justice, cross-national comparative studies, methodology and statistics. She can be reached at minkyung@temple.edu.

Nathan is a third year doctoral student in the Department of Criminal Justice. Nathan completed a B.S. in Criminology and Justice Studies from the College of New Jersey and a Master of Social Work (policy track) from Rutgers. While at Rutgers he was awarded a Governor’s Executive Fellowship with the Eagleton Institute of Politics. He has worked in a residential treatment facility for troubled youth, as a group therapist in a drug treatment program, and for AmeriCorps’ Jumpstart program in Camden. Nathan’s research interests include criminological theory, prisoner reentry, and services for those in the correctional system. He is currently a Research Assistant for the drug treatment implementation study, CJDATS2, and is focusing his efforts on the medication-assisted treatment component. Nathan can be reached at nathan.link@temple.edu.

Lauren Mayes is a third year PhD student. She is from the Philadelphia area and received her BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Temple University, graduating magna cum laude, in 2009. Lauren completed her MA in Criminal Justice at Temple University in
2011. She has worked as a research assistant to Dr. Goldkamp and Dr.Vilcica looking at parole in Pennsylvania, and with Dr. Welsh on the CJDATS II project focusing on drug treatment implementation. Lauren is currently a teaching assistant for Tara Tripp. Her academic interests include critical criminology, mass incarceration, the prison-industrial complex, and reentry. In 2010-11 she was the proud co-captain of the first departmental softball team: The Hot Spots. Lauren can be reached at lauren.mayes@temple.edu.

Justin Medina is a fifth-year Ph.D. student from Santa Fe, New Mexico.  He received his BA in anthropology from the University of New Mexico and MS in criminal justice from the University of Pennsylvania.  He interned with the Police Foundation in 2006, and has been a Philadelphia Adult Probation/Parole Officer for the past two years.  His advisor is Dr. Ralph Taylor, and his current research interests include: probation/parole and policing issues, border issues, and the relationship dynamics between criminal justice entities (courts, police, & prisons). He can be reached at justin.medina@temple.edu.

Orosco, Carlena

Carlena A. Orosco is a third year PhD student. She is originally from Phoenix, Arizona and received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Criminal Justice from California State University, San Bernardino. Throughout her college career, Carlena worked as a Public Response Dispatcher for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, in addition to briefly serving as a Research Assistant for the Center for Criminal Justice Research. She is interested in the spatial aspects of crime, social networks of offenders as well as policing. In addition to being the current President of the Criminal Justice Graduate Student Association, she is currently a Research Assistant under Dr. Ralph Taylor, and can be reached at c.orosco@temple.edu.

Pich, Michele

Michele Pich is in her third year in the PhD program at Temple.  She is from Glassboro, NJ. Michele received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and did her Master’s work in Clinical Psychology with a forensic concentration from Drexel University. Michele had done research involving testing substance abuse treatment in the community corrections population. She has also done research involving public health within the criminal justice system, risk factors for intimate partner femicide, and ethical issues regarding capital punishment for mentally retarded and mentally ill offenders.

Maya Silva received a B.A. in Religion and Criminal Justice (2001) and a M.A. in Criminal Justice (2004) from Temple University. She is currently a doctoral candidate who is working on her dissertation, which focuses on desistance from crime. Her research interests include desistance from crime, restorative justice, the affects of special education laws on juvenile justice practices, youth offenders with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the spatial and temporal analysis of criminal events and freedom of religion in prisons. During the course of her graduate education, Maya has conducted individual research projects on the location of suburban graffiti, crime hot spots around Philadelphia public high schools and the site selection process for Philadelphia jails and prisons from 1700 to 1900. She has worked with Associate Professor M. Kay Harris as the teaching assistant for two experiential learning courses, Rehabilitation of the Offender and Honors Reform Strategies in Criminal Justice, as well as Introduction to Corrections. Maya is also an active volunteer with the L.I.F.E.R.S. Inc. Public Safety Initiative at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford, Pennsylvania.

Evan is a fourth year doctoral student who came to the program after spending three years as a police officer in the New York City Police Department.  During his tenure with the NYPD he received training from the Department of Homeland Security and the New York State Office of Emergency Management.  His research interests are largely centered around policing, crime control, and the geography of crime.  He has served as a research assistant on the Philadelphia Foot Patrol Experiment, and is currently working with Dr Jerry Ratcliffe, Dr Elizabeth Groff and the Philadelphia Police Department on the SMART policing project.  His current independent research is assessing the feelings of safety and security among business owners and workers in Philadelphia's 'Gayborhood', and he is collaborating with Dr Jennifer Wood on a paper examining the implications of foot patrol delineation on the measurement of crime displacement.  You may contact Evan at evan.sorg@temple.edu.

Matt Stephenson is a first year M.A. student.  He received his B.A. in Criminology with honors from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012. He is originally from Oil City, PA.  He is currently a member Alpha Phi Sigma National Honor Society and the Pennsylvania Prison Society. His research interests include gangs, underage consumption of alcohol, and sentencing guidelines.  

Liana Taylor is from Cleveland, Ohio. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Cincinnati and her Master's degree in Criminal Justice at Temple University.  Liana has worked closely with Dr. Matthew Hiller on a number of projects, including an evaluation of the Washington County Drug Court and Waukesha County DUI Court. Her research interests are in reentry programs, specifically drug courts and therapeutic communities, as well as program evaluation and program planning. Liana is currently working as a research assistant for the CJDATS Assessment Study with Dr. Wayne Welsh, Dr. Steven Belenko and Dr. Matthew Hiller.  She can be reached at liana.taylor@temple.edu.

Sondra Tower is a doctoral student from Manchester, New Hampshire. She earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a dual minor in Psychology and Political Science from Northeastern University, and a M.A. in Criminal Justice from Widener University.  She spent three years as a police officer on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, after which she decided to continue her education.  She is currently working with Dr. Elizabeth Groff studying Philadelphia parks and crime.  Her research interests include the “where and why” of crime, and in the future she would like to pursue more qualitative research.  Sondra can be reached at smtower@temple.edu.

Kelly is in her third year in the PhD program.  She received her B.A. in Psychology from Messiah College in 1999.  Upon graduating she worked for over a year as a Crime Victim Advocate in Dauphin County, and then moved on to become a Probation Officer with Dauphin County Juvenile Probation for six years.  While working for the probation department Kelly studied at Shippensburg University and earned her M.S. in Criminal Justice.  After her time at juvenile probation, Kelly worked for three years at Milestones Community Healthcare, Inc. as the program director for their behavior health services program.   Kelly has been a full-time instructor at Messiah College and an adjunct instructor at Harrisburg Area Community College.  Kelly’s research interests include juvenile justice and delinquency issues and restorative justice.  She can be contacted at kwaltman@temple.edu

Christina Watson is a third year Ph.D. student. She is a native of Philadelphia and completed her undergraduate studies at Temple University in 2009, receiving a BA in Criminal Justice. As part of her undergraduate studies at Temple, she completed two independent studies where she worked as a research assistant on drug and alcohol treatment courts. She has also worked as a data collector for the national evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. program. Her research interests include drug treatment courts and juvenile delinquency.