Theresa Lee

Theresa Lee, 2019 Cohort
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Theresa Lee graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2021 with a Major in Criminal Justice, a second major in Psychology, and a minor in sociology. She is interested in studying reentry challenges faced by convicted offenders (see more on her research below). She presented a poster of her research at the American Society of Criminology (ASC) conference with the support of her mentor Dr. Lindsey Upton in the fall of 2019 as well as at the EWU Virtual Symposium in 2020. Theresa completed two summers of EWU McNair Research Internships.

For graduate school, she was accepted into the PhD Program in Sociology at the University of Hawai’i Manoa, the PhD Program in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina, the Master’s Program in Criminology, Law and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the PhD Program in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and the PhD Program in Sociology at Bowling Greene State University, with full funding, where she plans to attend in Fall 2021.


2019-2020 McNair Faculty Research Mentor: Dr. Lindsey Upton

Research Title: Prisoner Reentry: College Perceptions of Reentry Barriers in a Northwest Community

Presentation Poster

Abstract: The United States has experienced an enormous rise and fall in crime rates, while incarceration rates have continued to soar. One of the many pressing concerns about the era of mass incarceration, especially in times where decriminalization of drug offenses occurs, communities are faced with increases in returning inmates and resources needed for successful reentry. This study is focused on community perceptions of barriers faced regarding incarceration, prisoner reentry, and improving recidivism rates in communities. Qualitative data are collected from interviews and focus groups conducted in an Inland Northwest community, to shed light on the community’s perception of barriers to reentry that might interrupt successful reentry for inmates or that may be viewed as more helpful for inmates’ successful reentry. This research extends our understanding of community perceptions of barriers faced in interrupting the cycles of incarceration as well as provides an assessment and evaluation of what exists, what is needed, and what has worked in this community. The research has implications for local criminal justice reform efforts to better provide services and resources for returning inmates.


McNair Alum Illuminate the Graduate School Experience

What a joy to see the faces of 6 former EWU McNair Scholars all on the same screen this summer! As a part of the culminating weeks of our intensive McNair Summer Research Internship that includes daily graduate school application and preparation seminars, these brilliant alumni joined us to share their insights and experiences as … Read more
EWU McNair Faculty Mentor, Dr. Lindsey Upton, “It was a really rewarding experience to talk through scholars’ ideas and facilitate their first foray into research.” Mentees include Alexandria Coronado and Theresa Lee

Dr. Lindsey Upton: A Thoughtful, Engaged Mentor Makes a Difference in the Lives of First Generation Scholars

    When I spoke with Dr. Lindsey Upton about being a McNair faculty mentor, it was no surprise to me that she’d been in touch with EWU McNair alumna Theresa Lee recently. Dr. Upton mentored Theresa for two summers as she researched Prisoner Reentry: College Perceptions of Reentry Barriers in a Northwest Community. As … Read more
12 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2021 CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium

12 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

In June 2021, EWU held the CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium. This online event offered a chance for McNair scholars to present their research, as well as attend the Social Justice in Research Panel of EWU McNair alumni now working in academics and education.  The mission of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement … Read more
Article for Theresa Lee

EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee Accepted by Sixth Graduate Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee! Theresa has been accepted by the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies in the their Masters of Public Policy program. This includes a prestigious Faculty Recognition Scholarship which were only awarded to a select few Masters students. Theresa has already been accepted by five other … Read more
Congrats to Theresa

EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee Accepted by University of Wisconsin PhD Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee! Theresa has been accepted by the Sociology PhD Program at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, a top-tier Research 1 institution. In addition, she was awarded a McNair Graduate Entrance Fellowship. This is Theresa’s fifth acceptance! She has also been accepted by the Criminology, Law, and Justice Masters Program … Read more
Congratulations to Theresa

EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee Accepted by University of Illinois Masters Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee! Theresa has been accepted by the Criminology, Law, and Justice Masters Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This is Theresa’s fourth acceptance! She has also been accepted by the Criminology and Criminal Justice PhD Program at the University of South Carolina, the Sociology PhD program at the … Read more
Congratulations to Theresa Lee

EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee Accepted by Criminology and Criminal Justice PhD Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee! Theresa has been accepted by the Criminology and Criminal Justice PhD Program at the University of South Carolina. This is Theresa’s third acceptance. She has also been accepted by the Sociology PhD program at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and the Sociology PhD at Bowling Greene State … Read more
Congrats to Theresa Lee

EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee Accepted to the Sociology PhD Program in UH Mānoa

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee. Theresa has been accepted by the Sociology PhD Program at the University of Hawai’i Mānoa. This is in addition to her acceptance for a Sociology PhD at Bowling Greene State University with full funding. She is interested in researching incarceration, recidivism and community reentry with a particular interest … Read more
Congrats to Theresa

EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee Accepted to the Bowling Green State University PhD Program

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee. Theresa has been accepted by the Sociology PhD Program at Bowling Greene State University with full funding. She is interested in researching incarceration, recidivism and community reentry with a particular interest in unforeseen consequences of incarceration. She received two EWU McNair Summer Research Internships (2019, 2020) and worked … Read more

EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee Completes Summer Research Internship

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Theresa Lee for completing her second EWU McNair Summer Research Internship! Theresa continued her research on college student perceptions of the barriers of prison reentry under the mentorship of Dr. Lindsey Upton in the Department of Sociology and Justice Studies. Last year she led focus groups with college students and … Read more