Sarah L. Jirek, Ph.D.
Deane Hall 204
Tuesday 4:00-5:30 pm and Friday 2:00-3:30 pm and by appointment.
Social Work, Sociology of Deviance, Sociology of Violence, Trauma Recovery, Qualitative Research Methods.
Prison re-entry and Criminal justice system reform.
Trauma recovery and posttraumatic growth
Gendered violence
How organizations, institutions, and helping professionals can play a more effective role in facilitating positive life change
Dr. Sarah L. Jirek, a former Westmont valedictorian, returned to her alma mater as a faculty member in 2014. She has a M.S.W. degree, as well as a joint Ph.D. in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Jirek’s current research project, located at the intersection of the disciplines of Sociology, Criminology, and Social Work, draws upon life story interviews conducted with 75 individuals who recently returned home from prison, as well as 8 professionals working in prison reentry programs. She is examining the following research questions: 1) How can the U.S. better promote the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals once they return home? 2) How do the processes of personal transformation, resocialization, and rehabilitation occur—both in prison and during reentry? and 3) What changes in social structures, societal institutions, and social programs are needed to: a) reduce the numbers of individuals who get involved in the criminal justice system, b) stimulate genuine and lasting personal transformation among those individuals who do get involved in the criminal justice system, and c) promote the successful reintegration of individuals post-release?
Dr. Jirek’s other teaching and research interests include the sociological factors that impact trauma recovery and posttraumatic growth, gendered violence, narrative reconstruction, resilience, and promoting the well-being of helping professionals.
When not teaching or researching, Dr. Jirek enjoys hiking, reading novels, spending time with family and friends, and training for her next marathon!