Vera Institute of Justice

Deinya Phenix was associate director for research for Vera's Ending Girls’ Incarceration initiative, where she led mixed-methods research investigating the criminalization and gendered pathways to system involvement and life course impact for young people. She was principal investigator of a collaborative evaluation of a gender-responsive, trauma-informed diversion program and several studies aimed toward advancing the freedom of girls and gender-expansive young people. Deinya also supported and advised Vera’s Restoring Promise Initiative.

Before joining Vera, Deinya was a quantitative behavioral scientist, researcher, and consultant in urban education, public health, and criminal justice, as well as an award-winning college professor.

Deinya is a member of Statistics Without Borders, the American Evaluation Association, and the American Criminological Society, among other professional and charitable organizations.

Deinya holds a bachelor’s degree from Williams College, an MA in sociology from the University of New Mexico, and a PhD in sociology from New York University.