Jacob H
- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Cornell University

Expertise

political science, public policy, criminology, sociology, legal studies, quantitative methods, survey design

Bio

Hi! I’m Jacob, an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama with a Ph.D. from Cornell University. I study criminal justice policy and political behavior, focusing on how laws and government decisions affect people’s everyday lives. Much of my work uses large datasets and advanced quantitative methods, but I also enjoy qualitative research and helping students build strong literature reviews and theoretical arguments. Few things are more satisfying to me that starting with an idea helping students shape that idea into a well-designed, polished research project. I enjoy mentoring students one-on-one and supporting them as they work toward big academic goals. I’m comfortable in a wide range of educational settings, having taught courses in correctional facilities and online, as well as mentoring high school students as they develop independent research projects. Outside of work, I’m a parent to three young kids, who keep life busy, fun, and full of perspective. When I can sneak in some free time, I enjoy playing tennis, college sports, and visiting new places.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Reforming Offenders AND Increasing Public Safety: A Review of the Evidence

Political debates about criminal justice often suggest that policymakers must choose between helping people who have committed crimes and keeping the public safe. In reality, many policies can do both at the same time. This project reviews research on criminal justice policies that help people stop committing crimes and looks at which approaches are most effective at improving public safety while also supporting rehabilitation. It also considers which of these policies might be easier to support politically, helping connect research evidence to real-world policy decisions.

Coding skills

R, Stata, R Markdown, Latex

Teaching experience

I have extensive teaching and mentoring experience in classroom, research, and one-on-one settings. As a faculty member, I have taught undergraduate courses and supervised teaching assistants and research assistants, while also mentoring students through the full research process, including publishing peer-reviewed work with undergraduates. In addition, through my work with Cardinal Education, I provide individualized academic and research mentoring, helping students develop strong research skills and prepare papers for conference presentations and/or publication.

Credentials

Work experience

Cardinal Education (2025 - Current)

Research Mentor

Y2 Analytics (2020 - 2020)

Data Analyst

Education

Brigham Young University

BA Bachelor of Arts (2019)

Political Science

Cornell University

MA Master of Arts (2023)

Government