Tiffaney Tomlinson

Why FSU?

The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice ranks among the top criminology programs in the nation. In addition, it is home to leading scholars in the field who teach classes in which they are experts. As a result, students can learn from and work alongside accomplished faculty.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I was motivated to pursue a graduate degree because I have always been fascinated by crime. During my undergraduate education in criminal justice at Florida A&M University, I started my quest for knowledge about crime. I realized then that the questions I was passionate about were not as black and white as I initially thought. It was then that I decided that I wanted to pursue a doctorate in criminology to gain a better understanding of crime and the criminal justice system and contribute to research and scholarship.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

The goal of my dissertation is to contribute to scholarship on contemporary prisons. More specifically, this study seeks to contribute to research aimed at understanding how correctional personnel adapt to working within the prison system and the consequences of prison work on employees. It will also contribute to scholarship by illuminating how occupation-specific social capital (OSSC) may shape several factors, such as how individuals approach their job, how effective they are at their job, and how they view the population they are working within or working for.

Career aspirations

My career aspirations include obtaining an academic career where I can pursue research, teaching, and service to the broader community.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

When facing adversity, do not lose sight of the reason(s) why you decided to attend graduate school.

Accomplishments during graduate career

As a doctoral candidate, I have achieved several goals, such as engaging in research, teaching, and providing service to FSU, the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds as they begin their academic careers. In particular, I have worked on research with several scholars within and outside of FSU. Those collaborations have appeared in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Justice Quarterly, and Crime and Delinquency.