CURRICULUM VITAE OFFICE ADDRESS: Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice One University Boulevard 530 Lucas Hall St. Louis, MO 63121 Email: sgn3c@umsl.edu EDUCATION 2011-2016 Doctoral Candidate (ABD), (UMSL), St. Louis, Missouri Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Criminal Justice Dissertation: Race, Neighborhood Context, and Drug Enforcement: A Mixed-Method Analysis of Racial Disparities in Drug Arrests Committee: Richard Rosenfeld (chair), Janet Lauritsen, Michael Campbell, and Rod Brunson 2013 (UMSL), St. Louis, Missouri Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice 2011 Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, Indiana Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, distinction Minor: Psychology Spanish as a Foreign Language component AREAS OF INTEREST Race, crime, and criminal justice Corrections Prisoner reentry Collateral consequences of criminal justice contact Families and communities of offenders Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods PUBLICATIONS Gaston, Shytierra. (2016). The Long-term Effects of Parental Incarceration: Does Parental Incarceration in Childhood or Adolescence Predict Depressive Symptoms in Adulthood? Criminal Justice and Behavior. Gaston, Shytierra and Beth Huebner. 2015. Gangs in Correctional Institutions. In Scott H. Decker and David C. Pyrooz (eds). The Handbook of Gangs. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Gaston, Shytierra and Jennifer Lorentz. 2013. Making the Most out of Relationships with Mentors. The Criminologist. 38(4): 36-37. WORKS IN PROGRESS Gaston, Shytierra. (revise and resubmit). A Critical Evaluation of Unnever and Gabbidon s Theory of African American Offending: Is It a Viable Theory for Explaining Black Violence? Gaston CV, pg. 1
Gaston, Shytierra and Elaine Eggleston Doherty (under review). Why Don t More Black Americans Offend? Testing a Theory of African American Offending s Ethnic-Racial Socialization Hypothesis. Gaston, Shytierra. Race, Neighborhood Context, and Drug Enforcement: Do Neighborhood Contextual Factors Explain Racial Disparities in Drug Arrests? Taylor, Terrance J., CheyOnna Sewell, and. Race, Sex, and Homicide Victimization Trends Over Time. Gaston, Shytierra. Families of Parolees: A Qualitative Study of Collateral Consequences and the Role of Families in Prisoner Reentry. CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS November 2015 Race, Neighborhood Context, and Drug Arrest Disparities: A Qualitative Analysis of Drug Enforcement Practices American Society of Criminology, Washington D.C. November 2014 Differential Involvement or Differential Enforcement: Do Neighborhood-Level Characteristics Explain Racial Differences in Drug Arrests?, Sherri Schaefer, and Richard Rosenfeld American Society of Criminology, San Francisco, California June 2014 Race, Sex, and Homicide Victimization Trends Over Time Terrance J. Taylor,, and CheyOnna Sewell Homicide Research Working Group Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas November 2013 Does Parental Incarceration Predict Internalizing Problems Through Early Adulthood? American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, Georgia March 2013 Families of Gang-Affiliated and Non-Gang Affiliated Releasees, poster presentation Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Dallas, Texas November 2012 Families of Gang-Affiliated Parolees, poster presentation American Society of Criminology, Chicago, Illinois Who Are the Unclaimed Dead? and Kenna Quinet April 2010 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana November 2009 Indiana University Undergraduate Research Conference, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana July 2009 Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunities Program Conference, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan July 2009 IUPUI Research Symposium, Indianapolis, Indiana TEACHING EXPERIENCES Spring 2016 Instructor, UMSL, Probation and Parole (upper undergraduate/graduate level) Gaston CV, pg. 2
Summer 2013 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Webster University, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences Developed and taught: American Corrections and Prisoner Reentry March 2013 February 2013 Junior Faculty Teaching Development Workshop (two-day workshop), Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and SAGE Publishing, Dallas, Texas Guest Lecturer, Saint Louis University, Research Methods for the Social Sciences (graduate level), Professor Hisako Matsuo 2012-2013 Youth Group Facilitator and Co-Curriculum Reviser, RAVEN Batterer Intervention and Youth Violence Prevention Program, St. Louis, Missouri Spring 2012 Fall 2011 Spring 2011 & Fall 2010 Summer 2010 Teaching Assistant for Professor Beth Huebner, UMSL, Senior Seminar: Crime and Public Policy (undergraduate online course) Teaching Assistant for Professor Beth Huebner, UMSL, Probation and Parole (undergraduate online course) Instructor for Family Healing at Indianapolis Reentry Educational Facility, a minimum-security male correctional facility Co-Instructor and Curriculum Reviser for Family Healing at Workforce Inc., a work center in Indianapolis for individuals recently released from prison AWARDS, HONORS, AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS June 2012 Keynote Speaker for the Professional Development Institute sponsored by IUPUI s Center for Research and Learning, Wisdom for Succeeding as an Undergraduate and Graduate Student Fellow, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. The ranks of NSF Fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering research, many who have become leaders in their chosen careers, and some who have been honored as Nobel laureates (retrieved from NSF GRFP website). 2011-present Graduate School Recruitment Fellowship, UMSL 2011-2012 Graduate Assistantship, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, UMSL May 2011 2011 and 2010 Student Commencement Speaker, IUPUI, Valuing the Journey and the Destination IUPUI Top 100 Outstanding student award, honored twice The IUPUI Top 100 student award is awarded by IUPUI s Alumni Association. Students are nominated for this prestigious recognition, and 100 students are selected by faculty, staff, and alumni Gaston CV, pg. 3
based on scholastic achievement, co-curricular achievement, leadership, and civic engagement. There were over 30,000 students enrolled at IUPUI in 2010 and 2011. 2010-present Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honors Society 2009-2011 Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar, IUPUI, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenna Quinet 2008-2011 Dean s List of High Honors, seven consecutive semesters, IUPUI 2007-2011 Twenty First Century Scholars Scholarship, IUPUI Summer 2015 PRIOR RESEARCH POSITIONS Research Assistant for Professors Lee Slocum and Andres Rengifo Conducted field research in South Bronx, New York as part of a longitudinal study examining neighborhood disorder and crime rates over time. Summer 2015 Research Assistant for Professor Elaine Eggleston Doherty, UMSL Conducted literature reviews for research part of the National Institute of Drug Abuse grant. Summer 2012 Research Assistant for Professor Beth Huebner, UMSL Duties included conducting interviews with gang-involved and non-gang-involved offenders who were recently released from federal prison and transcribing those interviews. Spring 2012 & Fall 2011 Research Interviewer for Professor Scott Decker and Arizona State University Duties included conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with paroled gang members in St. Louis about how gangs use technology, among other topics. Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Families of Parolees in St. Louis Through the collection of primary qualitative data, this research seeks to understand the collateral consequences of incarceration and reentry on the family members of parolees in St. Louis and the roles family members play during the reentry process. As the principal investigator, I am responsible for every aspect of this project, including maintaining a relationship with the parole agency and agents, recruiting participants, scheduling research interviews, conducting initial and follow-up interviews with family members, compensating participants, transcribing interviews, analyzing data, tracking and following up with participants, conducting literature reviews, and submitting annual reports to NSF and UMSL s Institutional Review Board. 2011-2012 Research Assistant for Professor Beth Huebner, UMSL Duties included conducting semi-structured interviews with gang-involved and non-gang-involved state parolees and federal releasees, transcribing those interviews, analyzing data, and writing summary reports of the findings. 2010-2011 Research Assistant, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Roudebush Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN I worked on the Women Veterans Cohort Study (WVCS), the Evaluation of Stepped Care for Gaston CV, pg. 4
Chronic Pain in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (ESCAPE), and Stepped Care to Optimize Pain Care Effectiveness (SCOPE) studies. These were large, longitudinal studies, and my duties included subject recruitment, in-person and phone interviews, following up with subjects, compensating subjects, data entry and verification, and tracking and managing study information. Additionally, I was a liaison to the Institutional Review Board and provided weekly reports to site coordinators in Indiana and Connecticut. 2009-2011 Research Assistant for Professor Kenna Quinet, IUPUI, Who Are the Unclaimed Dead? Authors: Dr. Kenna Quinet and, Department of Criminal Justice at IUPUI, and Alfarena Ballew, Chief Deputy Coroner at Marion County Coroner s Office Abstract: Each year in Marion County, Indiana, the Coroner s office manages unclaimed dead. A deceased individual is categorized as unclaimed when no next-of-kin family member claims the body due to the inability to locate a next-of-kin family member or the unwillingness of the family to claim the body. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographics of individuals who are unclaimed at Marion County Coroner s office, the cause, manner, and location of death, and processes for managing the unclaimed dead. Data were collected for all unclaimed dead cases in Marion County, Indiana from 2004-2009. After gathering and entering information into a database, the data were analyzed to generate descriptive demographics and characteristics such as race, age, gender, cause of death, manner of death, and location of death. Marion County s policies and procedures for managing the unclaimed dead are presented. Additionally, extensive online searching was conducted to collect articles and procedures regarding the management of unclaimed dead in other jurisdictions. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2015 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois 2015 Racial Democracy, Crime, and Justice Network Workshop, Columbus, Ohio 2015, 2014, 2013, & 2012 Youth Violence Prevention Conference,, St. Louis, Missouri 2014 American Society of Criminology Journal Manuscript Reviewer Training Workshop, San Francisco, California 2014 American Society of Criminology Pre-Conference Workshop: Regression Models for Time Series Analysis, San Francisco, California 2013 American Exceptionalism Conference, St. Louis, Missouri 2013 Network Perspectives on Criminology and Criminal Justice Conference, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona 2012 Symposium on Battered Women Who Kill, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 2010 The 25 th Annual Carroll F.S. Hardy National Black Student Leadership Development Conference, Vienna, Virginia SERVICE 2015-present Committee Member, American Society of Criminology s Minority Affairs Committee Gaston CV, pg. 5
April 2015 Judge, St. Louis Area Undergraduate Research Symposium, St. Louis, Missouri 2015 Case Manager, Ferguson Jail Support, St. Louis, Missouri Providing legal and social support to jailed protestors 2014-present Manuscript Reviewer, Race and Justice peer-review journal 2013-2014 Mentor, Big Brother Big Sister, St. Louis, Missouri 2012-2013 Newsletter Committee Member, American Society of Criminology s Division on Corrections and Sentencing 2012-2013 Youth Group Facilitator and Co-Curriculum Reviser, RAVEN Batterer Intervention and Youth Violence Prevention Program, St. Louis, Missouri 2011 Study Abroad in London and Paris, Urban Sociology, undergraduate course at IUPUI 2010-2011 Co-chairperson, Organizational Development Committee, Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 2010-2011 President, Student African American Sisterhood (SAAS), IUPUI SAAS is a student organization dedicated to the retention of African American women in academia through academic excellence, social unity, personal development, and community service. As president, I planned and managed events, oversaw executive and non-executive members, facilitated meetings, and collaborated with nonprofit organizations in the community. I planned events and discussions around edgy topics such as colorism within the African American community, domestic violence, low self-esteem, and women s health. As a leader of the organization and mentor to many members, I reinforced academic excellence through the implementation of workshops to teach members strategies for succeeding in college. 2010 Study Abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico, IUPUI 2009 Study Abroad in the Dominican Republic, History, Culture, and Identity, undergraduate course at IUPUI, Professor. Rosa Tezanos-Pintos Spring 2009 Inside-Out Prison Exchange: Women and Social Action, Indiana Women s Prison through IUPUI, Professor Susan Hyatt In spring 2009, I participated in a course entitled the Inside-Out Prison Exchange in which my college peers and I studied women and social action along with female inmates at Indiana Women s Prison. Entering a prison weekly illuminated my understanding of prison life and the unique needs of incarcerated women. ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS 2013-present Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Gaston CV, pg. 6
2013-present American Society of Criminology Division on Developmental and Life-Course Criminology Division on Corrections and Sentencing Division on People of Color and Crime REFERENCES Dr. Richard Rosenfeld Founders Professor Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (314) 516-6717 richard_rosenfeld@umsl.edu Dr. Janet Lauritsen Curators Professor Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (314) 516-5427 janet_lauritsen@umsl.edu Dr. Michael Campbell Assistant Professor Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (949) 233-9352 campbellmi@umsl.edu Dr. Rod Brunson Professor, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, and Doctoral Program Director School of Criminal Justice Rutgers University (973) 353-5030 rod.brunson@rutgers.edu Gaston CV, pg. 7