Autumn Davids is a PhD student in Criminal Justice at Temple University. She made her way to Temple after earning undergraduate degrees at Howard University and a master’s degree in Social Work at New York University. After her MSW program, she practiced as a licensed social worker for three years at a family shelter and two community behavioral health clinics. Throughout her collegiate and postgraduate studies, Autumn also worked on research teams focusing on various topics including creativity & personality, political decision-making, and gender identity.

Since beginning the PhD program at Temple, Autumn has done qualitative and community-based research with non-profit organizations in Philadelphia. In these roles, she worked on teams to develop logic models for the organizations’ programs and philosophies. She’s also gained experience as a Guest Lecturer and Teaching Assistant in subjects including Introduction to Criminal Law, Nature of Crime, and CJ Capstone Seminar: Criminal Justice Reform in the 21st Century. 

Autumn is the Director of Care, Not Control, which is a statewide coalition of youth leaders and advocates organizing to end youth incarceration in Pennsylvania. Autumn has gained nonprofit leadership experience through this important work. Her team educates communities and mobilizes them to demand a world that supports all youth to thrive.

Autumn’s research interests include community-based research, narrative research, community-led systems of care, and the impact of incarceration on social relationships. She also enjoys reading fiction, traveling with her family, and listening to Gracie’s Corner with her toddler.

Faculty Advisor: Caterina Roman