Deena Isom
Curriculum Vitae
August 2015
Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice ∙ African American Studies Program
University of South Carolina ∙ 109 Currell College ∙ 1305 Greene Street ∙ Columbia, South Carolina 29208
[email protected] ∙ (803) 777-0107
Faculty Positions
2015-present
Assistant Professor
Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice
African American Studies Program
University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
Education
May 2015
Ph.D., Sociology
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Exams: Criminology; Social Psychology
Dissertation: “Race, Racism, & Crime: An Empirical Assessment of African American
Offending” (Committee Chair: Dr. Robert Agnew)
2009
M.S., Criminology & Criminal Justice
Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
Thesis: “Gendered General Strain Theory: Perceptions of Gender
as a Conditioning Variable in GST” (Committee Chair: Dr. Marc Swatt)
2006
B.S., Psychology; B.A., Criminal Justice
The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Summa Cum Laude
General Research and Teaching Interests
Criminological Theory
Juvenile Delinquency
Methods & Statistics
Race & Gender
Law & Justice
Violence
Publications and Papers
Forthcoming Isom, Deena. “Microaggressions, Injustices, and Racial Identity: An Empirical Assessment of
the Theory of African American Offending.” Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice.
2014
Hegtvedt, Karen A. and Deena Isom. “Inequality: A Matter of Justice?” In Handbook of the
Social Psychology of Inequality, edited by Jane D. McLeod, Michael Schwalbe, and Edward
Lawler. Springer.
2011
Agnew, Robert, Heather Scheuerman, Jessica Grosholz, Deena Isom, Lesley Watson, and Sherod
Thaxton. “Does Victimization Reduce Self-Control? A Longitudinal Analysis.” Journal of
Criminal Justice 39:169-174.
Deena Isom: Curriculum Vitae 1
Under Review Isom, Deena. "An Air of Injustice? A Macro Strain Theory Approach to Understanding the Link
between Police Injustices and Neighborhood Rates of Violence."
In Progress
Isom, Deena. “Unpacking the Racial Disparity in Crime from a Racialized General Strain Theory
Perspective.”
In Progress
Isom, Deena and Yuk Fai Cheong. “Understanding the Mediating Effects of Negative Emotions
and Social Bonds in the Theory of African American Offending.”
In Progress
Meredith, Tammy and Deena Isom. “Development of an Automated Risk Instrument: An
Assessment Using Georgia Probation.”
Presentations
2015
Isom, Deena. (November). “Negative Emotions and Social Bonds: Exploring the Mediating
Effects in the Theory of African American Offending.” To be presented at the annual meeting of
the American Society of Criminology. Washington, D.C.
2015
Isom, Deena, Brenda Blackwell, and Justin Hoyle. (November). “The Empirical Status of
General Strain Theory: A Meta-Analysis.” To be presented at the annual meeting of the
American Society of Criminology. Washington, D.C.
2015
Isom, Deena. (March). “A Gendered Racial Gap? An Intersectional General Strain Theory
Approach to Understanding Gender Differences in African American Offending.” Presented at
the annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Society. New Orleans, Louisiana.
2014
Isom, Deena. (November). “Unpacking the Racial Disparity in Crime from a Racialized General
Strain Theory Perspective.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of
Criminology. San Francisco, California.
2013
Isom, Deena. (November). “Race, Racism & Crime: An Empirical Assessment of a Theory
African American Offending.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of
Criminology. Atlanta, Georgia.
2012
Isom, Deena. (November). “Beginning to Understand the Racialized Gender Gap.” Presented
at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology. Chicago, Illinois.
2012
Isom, Deena. (March). “An Assessment of a General Strain Theory Model of Neighborhood
Violence: Police Use of Force as a Neighborhood Strain.” Poster prepared for the Emory Center
of Injury Control’s First Annual Poster Session. Emory University School of Medicine. Atlanta,
Georgia.
2011
Isom, Deena. (November). “Neighborhood Strain and Violence: A Test of Community-Level
General Strain Theory.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of
Criminology. Washington, D.C.
Deena Isom: Curriculum Vitae 2
2010
Agnew, Robert., Heather Scheuerman, Jessica Grosholz, Deena Isom, Lesley Watson, and
Sherod Thaxton. (November). “Does Victimization Reduce Self-Control? A Longitudinal
Analysis.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology.
San Francisco, California.
2010
Isom, Deena and Marc L. Swatt. (November). “Development and Validation of a Measure
of Subjective Strain.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology.
San Francisco, California.
2009
Isom, Deena and Marc L. Swatt. (November). “Gendered General Strain Theory:
Perceptions of Gender as a Conditioning Variable in GST.” Presented at the annual meeting of
the American Society of Criminology. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Research and Professional Experience
June 2014-July 2015
Graduate Fellow
Emory University Laney Graduate School Development & Alumni Relations
 Support programs, activities, and efforts of the graduate school
 Manage databases and prepare operational and statistical reports
August 2013-December 2014
Graduate Editorial Assistant
American Sociological Association’s Social Psychology Quarterly
 Assist with management, reviews, and decisions for manuscripts
 Manage the journal webpage
August 2010-July 2014
Research Assistant
Applied Research Services, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
 Collect, manage, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data
 Compose research reports and grant applications
Fall 2011 & Spring 2012
Research Assistant
Emory University
Dr. Karen Hegtvedt
 Social Psychological Research on Justice and Inequality
Spring 2005- Spring 2006
Research Assistant
The University of Georgia
Dr. W. Keith Campbell
 Self-Serving Bias Study; Narcissism & Aggression Study
 Data Management
Dr. W. Keith Campbell and Dr. Leonard L. Martin
 Relationship Study; Terror-Management Study
Analytical Skills
Proficient in statistical analysis using SPSS
Familiar with the analytical packages Stata, MaxQDA, HLM, R, and MPlus
Deena Isom: Curriculum Vitae 3
Specialized Training and Experience
Methodological
2015
Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study Data Workshop, Columbia University, New York
2014
Hierarchical Linear Modeling Seminar II, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Yuk Fai Cheong (Spring)
2013
Hierarchical Linear Modeling Seminar I, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Yuk Fai Cheong (Fall)
2013
Latent Variable Modeling Seminar, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Drs. Yuk Fai Cheong & Irwin Waldman (Fall)
2012
Analyzing the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods Data,
American Society of Criminology, Dr. Robert Sampson and colleague (November)
2012
Physiological Indicators in Sociological Research, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Jody Clay-Warner (April)
2011
Active Offender Research: History, Practice, and Prospects,
American Society of Criminology, Dr. Richard Wright and colleagues (November)
2011
Qualitative Methods: Interviews, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Tracy Scott (Fall)
2011
Hierarchical Linear Modeling Workshop, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Yuk Fai Cheong (March)
2010
Structural Equation Modeling Workshop, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Irwin Waldman (December)
2010
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Criminological Panel Data,
American Society of Criminology, Dr. David Greenberg (November)
2010
Qualitative Analysis: Introduction to MaxQDA, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Irene Browne (May)
Professional
2012
2011
2010
2006
Emory Center for Injury Control’s Skilled-Based Public Health Training Program for
Injury Prevention, Intimate Partner and Youth Violence Focus, Policy Specialization
Directors of Health Promotion and Education, Atlanta, Georgia (March)
EndNote and Zotero Workshop, Emory University Library, Atlanta, Georgia (March)
Grant Writing Workshop, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (May)
Internship, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Region 11, Athens, Georgia (Fall)
Institutional and Professional Service
American Sociological Association
2013-2014
Social Psychology Quarterly Editorial Assistant & Referee
American Society of Criminology
2013-2015
Division on Women and Crime, Executive Council (elected position)
2013-2015
Division on Women and Crime, Student Affairs Committee Co-Chair
2012-2013
Student Affairs Committee (invited position)
2012, 2013, 2014
Annual Meeting Panel Organizer and/or Discussant
2014
2012
Emory University and Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia
SouthEastern Undergraduate Sociology Symposium
Co-Organizer
Outstanding Paper Referee and Panel Discussant
Deena Isom: Curriculum Vitae 4
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
2014-2015
Laney Graduate School Student Giving Council, Chair
Department of Sociology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
2014-2015
Diversity Committee, Graduate Student Representative
2014-2015
Undergraduate Program Committee, Graduate Student Representative
2012-2013
Graduate Program Committee, Graduate Student Representative
2011-2012
Departmental Self-Study Committee, Graduate Student Representative
2011-2012
Faculty Meeting, Graduate Student Representative
2011-2012
Coalition of Graduate Sociologists, President
2010-2013
Graduate Student Peer Mentor
2009-2012
Graduate Student Recruitment Committee
2009-2011
Coalition of Graduate Sociologists, Cohort Representative
2009-2010
Social Committee
Awards and Honors
2015
2014
2013
2010
2009
2006
2004
Columbia University Population Research Center’s Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study
Summer Data Workshop Participant (competitive selection with funding)
Emory University Laney Graduate School Development & Alumni Relations Fellow
American Sociological Association Social Psychology Quarterly Editorial Assistant Fellow
Emory Center for Injury Control’s Summer Student Injury Prevention Scholarship Recipient
Funded Project: An Assessment of Neighborhood Strain and Violence
Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honors Society
Phi Beta Kappa National Honors Society
Psi Chi National Psychology Honors Fraternity
Professional Membership
American Society of Criminology
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
Division on Women & Crime
Division on People of Color & Crime
American Sociological Association
Minorities and Women Section
Southern Sociological Society
Southern Criminal Justice Association
Crime, Law, & Deviance
Social Psychology
Sex & Gender
Race, Gender, & Class
Community Service and Involvement
2012-2014
Fitness Battalion CrossFit Instructor
CrossFit Level One, CrossFit Kids, Boot Camp Instructor
CPR Certified
2011-2015
2011
2006-present
2006-present
Atlanta Track Club Member
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s Team Challenge Georgia Team Member (Winter)
The University of Georgia Alumni Association, Boston, MA & Atlanta, GA Chapters
The University of Georgia Redcoat Band Alumni Association
Deena Isom: Curriculum Vitae 5