Associate Professor Dena Carson explains the importance of the O’Neill Professorship, emphasizing how it supports evidence-based decision-making inspired by the late Paul H. O’Neill. She highlights his dedication to aiding individuals through this approach. This prestigious award enables her to further O’Neill’s legacy by advancing critical research in the field.
In her own words, Carson stated, “the professorship allows me to build upon my current grant-funded research which seeks to understand the role of life events in the persistence and desistance of criminal behavior. To do this, my colleagues and I followed up with 4,000 individuals who participated in a longitudinal research project during adolescence. These individuals, now in their late 20s, will be asked about positive life events such as marriage and employment and negative life events such as victimization and incarceration. Through this funding, I have hired a graduate student to assist on the project, which provides them with first-hand research experience.”
Carson concluded by expressing her hopes for the future: “By the end of the professorship, I aim to disseminate my research so that it can be read by fellow academics and practitioners who work with incarcerated individuals.”
