Raul Armenta is a doctoral student in sociology from Los Angeles, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Columbia University and now studies the intersection of education and the criminal legal system under the guidance of Bryan Sykes at Cornell.
What is your area of research and why is it important?
My research focuses on the intersection of education and the criminal legal system, exploring how individuals affected by incarceration make sense of higher education and how these experiences shape political formations and mortality rates. This work has broader implications for reevaluating how we think about public health, rehabilitation, and reintegration. By understanding these effects on postsecondary education access, I aim to inform practices that support people affected by incarceration that prevent further harm.
What does it mean to you to be a Dean’s Scholar?
Being a Dean’s Scholar personally reaffirms that our work in society has been meaningful. It also reminds us that our efforts do not end here but should continue despite challenges. In this way, being part of the Dean’s Scholar community has served to draw inspiration and hope from others in their respective fields.
Read the full interview on the Cornell University Graduate School website.
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