In the fall 2013 edition of Member Profiles we are featuring Amaia Iratzoqui, a Ph.D. student in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University, and Constance Kostelac, an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Simpson College.
AMAIA IRATZOQUI
How did you become interested in the field of women and/or gender and crime?
I had the opportunity to work in a gender-specific rehabilitation and detention program housed in the female component of the Miami-Dade Juvenile Detention Center in Miami, Florida. What I noticed while working there was that many of these girls shared similar experiences: experiences with ongoing victimization and abuse histories. When the program closed, I wanted to find a way to not only learn the basis for developing these programs, but also how I could use education and research to draw attention to these issues. Gender research, for me, is so important because while crime and victimization are fairly gendered, the context of the experience, including the form of victimization, coping styles, social reaction and support, extent and variance of offending, exposure to environment, delinquent peers, and individual differences create such different experiences for males and females. Without the consideration of gender, and its intersection with race, we would have a far less complete picture of the nature of crime and victimization.
How do you define yourself as a scholar/activist/educator?
I find that teaching has only helped reinforce my passion for research and inspiring new ideas. I teach the undergraduate Victimology course at FSU, and each semester my students’ experiences and perspectives bring fresh insight to the material. I have been able to approach my own research in new ways after hearing my students’ questions and points made in class discussions. In this way, I become a better scholar as I become a more engaged educator.
What are your current projects or interests?
Right now, I’m mainly focused on moving forward with my dissertation. I’m also working on a number of side projects, all of which focus on different interests of mine. I have been fortunate to become involved in the ongoing citation research of Ellen Cohn and David Farrington, who pioneered the method and set the standard for citation research over twenty years ago. Our most recent effort is part of the Springer Briefs in Criminology line, titled Most-Cited Scholars in Criminology and Criminal Justice, 1986-2010. I also have several collaborations with Alana Van Gundy, whose passion for gender research constantly reinvigorates my own pursuits. My most recent project examines the potential social and legal consequences for individuals who fail to pay court fines, fees, and other related costs as part of their involvement in the court system.
Who is your favorite person (or animal!) to spend time with, and what are your favorite things to do when you are with them?
My parents are an unending source of encouragement, and their unwavering support has kept me on the path to success. I try to make it a goal with my friends in the grad program to get together outside of the academic setting, since it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in research. Pets are another source of emotional support – I have a cat, Oscar, who provides constant entertainment and serves as a good study buddy!
How do you wind down after a stressful day?
Now that I’ve finished my comprehensive exams, the dissertation has become my main focus, and can be stressful while I’m working through an existing problem. I’ve recently started personal training at the university gym, which is a good source of stress relief. Both mental health and physical health are extremely important to getting through the PhD process.
What obstacles do you feel you have overcome to be where you are today?
I come from a background of Public Administration, but my Bachelors degree is in Criminology. As a result, I was strong in the theoretical literature, but unfamiliar with any statistical methodology. Once I passed my Methods Comps and got more comfortable with more advanced statistical modeling, I felt more on par with the expectations set by my graduate program.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Ideally, I would want to be remembered not only for my contributions to the victimization literature, but also as a mentor to upcoming graduate students. Throughout my undergraduate career, Ellen Cohn served not only as my professor, but as a mentor and guide. Had she not nurtured my academic interest, I would not be where I am in my degree today.
What is one of your lifelong goals?
A lifelong goal of mine is to become fluent in the French and Basque languages.
Is there a website where we can send people for more information about you?
http://criminology.fsu.edu/p/about-phd-amaia-iratzoqui.php
Here is a link to Amaia’s most recent publication: http://www.amazon.com/Most-Cited-Scholars-Criminology-1986-2010-SpringerBriefs/dp/3319012215/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380761264&sr=1-1.#_
CONSTANCE KOSTELAC
How did you become interested in the field of women and/or gender and crime?
My interest in issues surrounding race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation first started in graduate school at Florida State University and was strengthened while completing my PhD at Arizona State. I was certainly influenced by the numerous faculty members at both institutions who took a strong stance on issues of inequality as it relates to crime and justice. I can clearly remember sitting in particular courses and having discussions with my chair and committee members and realizing that readings and discussions on marginalized groups, institutional discrimination, disproportionate outcomes in the criminal justice system, and related topics were literally transforming my views on crime and justice.
I would also say my particular interest in women as victims, offenders, and employees of criminal justice organizations was also impacted by my experience as a practitioner and researcher in a criminal justice agency. I had direct exposure to perceptions of gender and offending behavior, treatment of employees based on gender and sexual orientation, perceptions of victims of particular types of crimes, and related issues. In many respects I think these areas now permeate the way I see crime and the criminal justice system, which comes through in my teaching, research interests, and how I frame issues of crime and justice.
How do you define yourself as a scholar/activist/educator?
This is an interesting question for me because in many respects I have been undergoing a transition in this regard since moving in 2011 from working in a criminal justice agency to being in a full-time academic position. I think what underlies both roles for me is a strong stance on the need to use information, research, and evidence to make policy decisions, the importance of questioning the structure and functioning of the system, and addressing issues of inequality. As an educator, I see part of my role as helping students to be prepared to confront the assumptions upon which many views about crime and criminal behavior are based and to think critically about how we can prevent crime and victimization, while protecting the rights and well-being of individuals and communities.
What are your current projects or interests?
I am currently working on a number of relatively diverse projects. For example, I am in the midst of a collaborative project on urban migration issues in Des Moines, IA. Our goal with this project is to make some initial policy recommendations to help both the community and new residents adjust to the changing environment as people relocate from larger urban centers into Des Moines. These new residents are often moving in the hopes of escaping crime and improving their opportunities and quality of life. I am also continuing work on civilians in police organizations, to understand how departments differ in their use of civilian employees, as well as the work experiences for civilians and how they are situated relative to sworn employees within law enforcement agencies.
Who is your favorite person (or animal!) to spend time with, and what are your favorite things to do when you are with them?
There is nothing better than spending time with my family! In terms of activities (of course it depends on the time of year), some of our favorites include biking, swimming, playing board games, watching movies, cooking, going on outings, and spending time in the neighborhood or at the park. Since this will be our third Iowa winter I am trying to gear myself up for outdoor winter fun!
How do you wind down after a stressful day?
I spend time with my kids. They keep me grounded and help me put things back into focus after a stressful or frustrating day. My husband also has great perspective and talking to him usually makes me see situations or challenges in a new light.
What obstacles do you feel you have overcome to be where you are today?
In so many respects I feel like I have been extremely fortunate with having a variety of opportunities, supportive friends and family, and numerous people who provided me with both challenges and encouragement. Overall it has been an interesting road, particularly being a first-generation college student. I often felt as if I was navigating unchartered territory on my own and was just hoping I was making good decisions along the way.
What would you like to be remembered for?
I would like to be remembered for having a positive impact in a variety of ways. In particular, I would like to know that I was able to enrich the lives of my family, friends, students, coworkers, and members of the community. I also hope to be remembered as someone who both lived and worked with integrity and held high expectations for myself and for others to go out and do good things in the world.
What is one of your lifelong goals?
Where to begin? I don’t know that I have one goal, but I plan to travel domestically and internationally, write a novel, raise socially responsible children, and live a good life.
Is there a website where we can send people for more information about you?
You can find me on the Sociology and Criminal Justice page at Simpson College http://simpson.edu/author/ckostelac/