Tamara Wood is a current graduate student in the Criminal Justice program. Read about her time in the program, favorite courses and more below!

Tamara Wood is the first person in two decades to choose the thesis option for the Criminal Justice graduate program, making her the second person in the Department of Criminal Justice’s history to do so. Wood has been chosen for the student spotlight due to her “beautiful and fierce” contributions to both research and the department. Her research focuses on the “memorable messages that Black girls receive in school, and how those messages might prepare them for prison.” While it was a tough decision to be the first person in two decades to write and defend a thesis, Wood knew this is something she wanted to do. Her work and dedication throughout her time at Temple is commendable, making her a great student to highlight.

During Wood’s time in the graduate program, she shared that she was not only a student of Criminal Justice, but also a student of life. A couple of Wood’s favorite courses were Theories of Crime with Dr. Fader and Incarceration and the Family with Dr. Noel. These courses allowed Wood to explore the intersectionalities of different identities and how they create vulnerabilities to committing crime or being victimized. In addition, opportunities such as interning with Central Division Victim Services and the Defenders Association of Philadelphia have offered unique insights into working with both youth and victims. Ultimately, Wood hopes to pursue law school and to practice criminal law. Wood was nominated for recognition by her advisor, Dr. Jamie Fader, who shared that in the time she’s worked with Wood, she has learned a tremendous amount. It is clear to the department that Wood is a determined and remarkable student – we remain excited to see how Wood carves her path in this world!