Pictured from left, top row: Students Elijah Guerra, Alejandro Cabrera-Maldonado and Quinea Oard. Middle row: Program coordinator Hilda Villadelgado, and students Angela Sandoval Mejia, Celeste Andrade and Dayana Ramirez-Venegas. Front row: Professor Nancy Rodriguez, and students Sage Cerda, Angeles Martinez and Aline Nava. Photos by Han Parker
First-gen students prepare for graduate studies in criminology
A new leadership initiative — Next Generation of Crime and Justice Scholars Program — has launched and eight students make up the inaugural cohort. They are: undergrads Celeste Andrade, Sage Cerda, Elijah Guerra, Angeles Martinez, Aline Nava, Quinea Oard, Dayana Ramirez-Venegas and Angela Sandoval Mejia.
The program supports first-generation and justice-impacted students as they prepare for graduate school.
“The students participate in a year-long program where they are mentored by faculty throughout the country and learn how to navigate the graduate school application process,” says Nancy Rodriguez, professor of criminology, law and society, who created the program.
“Providing first-generation students the skills and resources to successfully pursue graduate education benefits not just the students and their families but universities and communities at large,” she adds. “The students in the program are dedicated to using research to solve some of the most complex social problems, like addiction, mental health among young persons, and the ineffectiveness of justice system policies. Further, they have rich, valuable life experiences that will significantly enhance knowledge development and policy and practice.”
As a first-generation student herself, Rodriguez says she benefited tremendously from the guidance of professors who exposed her to a career in academia. “This is my small way of providing students the same level of support that changed my trajectory.”
Student Goals
Andrade, criminology, law and society and psychological science major, is interested in researching the correlation between psychological conditions such as psychosis or mental disorders of juveniles and delinquency rates. She wants to pursue a graduate degree in criminology or forensic psychology to examine the relationship between mental health and crime.
Cerda, criminology, law and society and social ecology major, who serves as president of UCI’s LIFTED program and vice president of Underground Scholars Student Initiative, is interested in examining the relationship between mindfulness and impulsivity in adolescents with the ultimate goal of promoting self-regulation and informed decision-making. She is committed to supporting the prison-to-university pipeline and advocates for the rights of currently incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and justice system-impacted individuals and wants to be a criminal law attorney to further her advocacy efforts.
Guerra, criminology, law and society major, is focused on probation and parole research, examining whether their regulations promote rehabilitation or lead to reincarceration. He aspires to attain a Ph.D. in criminology with the ultimate aim to work with incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and gang-involved individuals through continued research.
Martinez, criminology, law and society and psychology major, is interested in exploring the intersection between undocumented status and criminalization, particularly the systemic inequalities that lead to crime. She wants to become an immigration and criminal attorney.
Nava, criminology, law and society major, is interested in investigating the cross section of substance abuse and mental health with delinquency. She wants to pursue graduate school to improve forensic sciences, particularly the science of collecting and analyzing specific forms of evidence.
Oard’s research interests focus on the experiences of individuals impacted by the justice system, particularly the social and psychological outcomes of incarcerated youth. The African American studies major wants to earn a Ph.D. in African American studies and pursue a career in research and advocacy to address systemic inequalities, such as mass incarceration and high criminalization in Black and Brown communities.
Ramirez-Venegas, criminology, law and society and psychological science major, plans to pursue a law degree and work as an immigration or criminal defense attorney. She is driven by a commitment to advocating for underserved populations and working toward systemic reform.
Sandoval Mejia, criminology, law and society and psychological science major, is interested in understanding the intersection of juvenile behavior and substance abuse, particularly how familial and personal influences can contribute to criminal activity.