Shaneya Nyasia Simmelkjaer is a 5th year PhD Candidate of Sociology at Syracuse University. She is a first-generation Bachelors and Masters degree-holder, and the first person in her family to pursue a doctorate degree. Shaneya’s research centers on the Sociology of Punishment, with areas of specialization in mass incarceration, re-entry and the collateral consequences of incarceration, parole, and criminal legal system reform.

Shaneya earned three Bachelor of Arts degrees in Criminology, Political Science, and African American Studies from SUNY Cortland in 2021. She then went on to earn her Master’s degree in Sociology in 2024, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Women’s and Gender Studies in 2026 from Syracuse University. She has been en route to earning her doctorate degree in Sociology since 2022.

Shaneya is a dedicated scholar, educator, and community member. She enjoys social justice advocacy, and is passionate about working with marginalized communities to address systemic inequality.

To access Shaneya’s CV, please click here!