SMU students gain hands-on research experience at the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center

The Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center at SMU Dedman School of Law provides undergraduate research assistants with unique opportunities to influence the future of criminal justice policy. Working on innovative public defense research with Deason Center experts, students learn to analyze complex legal issues and develop evidence-based policy recommendations. Along the way, they refine critical research and writing skills.

Four students recently discussed their experiences working as Deason Center research assistants, sharing stories about the research they conducted and the skills they developed. Many were drawn to the Deason Center for its focus on criminal justice reform and the opportunity to engage with real-world issues.

Evangeline Bulick is a senior majoring in English and French with minors in advertising and European area studies. Bulick highlighted the Deason Center’s commitment to making actionable recommendations to improve the criminal legal system.

“The Deason Center really piqued my interest because it seemed like the people who work there are actually working towards doing something real,” said Bulick. “It's not just researching and putting words onto a page. It's fighting to do something that's going to have an impact on the people who need our support the most. I thought that it was incredibly important.”

For Libby Dorin, a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in corporate communications and public affairs, hands-on work with the Deason Center aligned with her career goals. The Center also provided her with a deeper dive into criminal justice reform, a field that always intrigued her.

“Criminal justice has always been something I’m interested in, and there are so many different fields of law,” noted Dorin. “Being on the pre-law track, I thought it would be a really nice idea to dive into a specific type of law.”

Deason Center students find it both challenging and rewarding to manage complex projects. Dorin’s experience is no exception.

“I was asked to compile a comprehensive report of election cycles for district attorneys, judges, clerks, every kind of official that you could think of in four different counties,” Dorin said. “But once it was done, I felt like I really helped out the team.” she added.

Bulick’s most rewarding experience was researching methods to improve public defense in rural, suburban, and urban communities.

“Working primarily on a project that's funded by the National Institute of Justice, my role was as a historical researcher, compiling information and synthesizing it into deliverables for my supervisors,” shared Bulick. Her experience also taught her the importance of collaboration, showing how even small contributions can make a meaningful impact in the broader scope of criminal justice reform.

“This project taught me just how many people are involved in making a change and how many different elements are necessary. It's not just one point person on a project doing all the work; there are so many people behind the scenes working on every component and piece of research. It’s really the collective effort that makes the change happen.”

The Deason Center fosters this collaborative environment, encouraging students to both learn from each other and work closely with their supervisors. For Jack Litwin, a sophomore majoring in political science with minors in philosophy and business, the guidance he has received from Deason Center staff has been the most impactful part of his experience.

What’s most notably exceeded my expectations of working here is the mentorship dynamic. Everyone here feels so strongly about spreading knowledge out of pure passion for the field. Their motivation is encouraging me to go out and spread that knowledge.

— Jack Litwin, Deason Center Undergraduate Research Assistant

Beyond technical research skills, Deason Center student researchers hone a range of transferable skills that will serve them in their future careers. Sean Wallace, a senior majoring in management, noted that his Deason Center work has reinforced how data-driven research influences public policy decisions, reinforcing his desire to pursue a legal career that helps others.

“Doing research that breaks down small pieces of information and then thoroughly dissects them, and then approaching it in a way that is truly going to make an impact—that is why what we’re doing here is going to change people’s lives,” Wallace explained.

Wallace also found that working with the Deason Center sharpened his ability to synthesize and clearly communicate complex legal information.

“This entire experience has made my law school aspirations feel more grounded. Being able to break down complex ideas and present them in a concise way is such a valuable skill, especially for law school,” said Wallace. He was not alone in identifying improved writing skills as a benefit of working at the Deason Center. Dorin also noted improvements in her ability to communicate research to diverse audiences.

“I definitely feel like I’ve learned to get to the point, but also include enough detail so anyone reading can understand what’s going on,” Dorin shared.

Similarly, Bulick found unexpected benefits from working at the Deason Center. She’s been particularly grateful to have a more practical lens through which to view her coursework. 

“I'm an English major, and I have a lot of experience writing. But it's a different form of writing. It's often not meant to be something that's read or understood by the general public. It's usually much more academic,” Bulick explained.

“Working at the Deason Center has made it much easier for me to write in a way that's accessible to a larger audience. When you have something important to say and you're trying to invoke change, it's really important that you're actually able to reach your audience.”

For students considering working at the Deason Center, the advice is clear: be prepared to work hard and stay focused on the bigger picture.

As Dorin wisely advised, “These projects are often complex, and the deadlines are tight. But if you keep in mind the bigger purpose of your work, it makes everything worthwhile.”

SMU students looking to shape the future of criminal justice reform and gain valuable research experience can learn more about the Deason Center’s student employment opportunities