Meet Our Lab Members
Pajarita Charles
Principle Investigator
Pajarita Charles is an Assistant Professor at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work and an affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty, the Center for Law, Society, and Justice, and the Justice Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research centers on the development, implementation, and testing of family-focused preventive interventions to promote positive outcomes for children and families affected by the criminal justice system. Dr. Charles’ efforts foster research, practice, and public sector partnerships to build capacity for reform and the reduction of the footprint of the criminal justice system. She is a co-leader of the national Promote Smart Decarceration grand challenge network for the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and frequently collaborates with local and state organizations to provide expertise and guidance on issues pertinent to families impacted by the criminal justice system.
Current Lab Members
Victoria Ylizaliturri
Lab Manager
Victoria Ylizaliturri is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Colleges of Letters and Science Honors Program. She received a BA in Political Science and Honors Sociology, with a Concentration in Analysis and Research (CAR). Currently, she is the research coordinator for the Making Readings Memories Program, managing the intervention program and research study conducted at some Wisconsin Jails. Starting in the Fall of 2024, Victoria will be attending graduate school to pursue her PhD in Sociology with an interest in the intersection of international migration and race & ethnicity, specifically studying the racial politics of immigration.
Jacqueline Buck
Doctoral Student
Jacque is a Joint MSW/PhD student in the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, with a background in community-based participatory mental health research and implementation science methodology as a clinical research coordinator. Her broad interests include community reentry, alternative sentencing, criminal legal reform, violence prevention and intervention, and family well-being. In her studies, Jacque aims to explore interventions to promote positive outcomes for individuals affected by the criminal legal system and avenues for criminal legal policy change and advocacy.
Evelyn Coker
Doctoral Student
Evelyn is a Clinical Social Worker from Chicago, Illinois with a background in community mental health, juvenile justice, and nonprofits. Her broad interests include the impact of trauma in shaping the lives of youth, families, and communities. In her studies, Evelyn plans to focus on assessing how to improve the social-emotional skills of adolescents and emerging adults to reduce criminogenic risk factors, gang activity, and participation in violence. She is also the author of 'Get L.I.T.: A Teen Girl's Journal to Learning Intentional Tools for Positive Personal Development' and her company Morning Joy, LLC provides Get LIT Groups to female students in 5th-8th grades in the Chicagoland area.
Paulina Grekov
Doctoral Student
Paulina is a PhD student in the Quantitative Methods area of the Department of Educational Psychology working with Dr. James Pustejovsky. Paulina's current research interests include meta-analysis, research synthesis, multilevel modeling, and single-case experimental designs. Prior to coming to UW Madison, Paulina spent several years working within educational settings including managing caseloads of, and teaching, fourth through sixth grade students with disabilities.
Jordan Zdroik
Undergraduate Student
Jordan is a junior majoring in Human Development and Family Studies, along with a certificate in criminal justice. She joined the lab in fall of 2023 through the criminal justice certificate program. Jordan is interested in criminal justice reform, as well as working with families affected by the criminal justice system itself. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with family and staying active outdoors.
Mia Simone
Undergraduate Student
Mia is a senior majoring in Psychology and is also obtaining certificates in Criminal Justice and Education & Educational Services. She joined the lab in the summer of 2023 through the criminal justice certification program. Mia is interested in legal system reform and improving familial connections through the use of interventions. In her free time, Mia enjoys exercising, spending time with friends, and lake day activities.
David Blatz
Undergraduate Student
David is a senior majoring in Economics and Statistics with a certificate in Health Policy. He joined the lab in Fall 2023 through the Health Policy Certificate program. He is interested in criminal justice reform and interventions that promote family and incarcerated person wellbeing. In his free time, David enjoys hiking, reading and playing with his cats.
Miranda Dorsey
Undergraduate Student
Miranda is a senior majoring in Social Work and Psychology and is also obtaining a certificate in Criminal Justice. She joined the lab in the fall of 2023 through the Social Work program. Miranda is interested in pursuing either criminal justice or health care social work, with the goal of helping connect and strengthen families. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going to concerts, reading, going for sunset walks, and spending time with her friends and family.
Grace Dai
Undergraduate Student
Grace is a junior studying Information Systems, Risk Management and Insurance, and Legal Studies with a certificate in Mathematics. Her interest in legal research started after working as a Family Forms Clinic Volunteer at the Milwaukee Justice Center where she worked directly with Milwaukee residents helping low-income families with issues related to child support, custody, placement, divorce, and more. After seeing the impact policy and the legal system has on families, she’s been interested in research related to family dynamics and law, as well as policy-guiding work.
Nina Santiago
Undergraduate Student
Nina is a junior majoring in Legal Studies and Political Science with a certificate in digital studies. She joined the lab in the spring of 2024 through the Legal Studies program. Nina is interested in justice reform as well as working with the community to keep families affected by incarceration connected. Outside of the lab Nina enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the gym, and spending time outdoors. visitors.
Alejandra Pavon Guajardo
Undergraduate Student
Alejandra is a senior majoring in Political Science, with certificates in Criminal Justice, History, and Art. She joined the lab in Spring 2024 through the Criminal Justice program, as the Lab combines her passion for prison reform and evidence based research. Ever since taking her first Legal Studies course at UW, she knew she wanted to pursue a career to help aid the injustices in the corrections system, and before the Lab, she has also interned at the UW Law School helping with Federal and Oxford Prison Appeals projects. Outside of the lab, Alejandra enjoys painting, watching reality TV, and spending time in nature.