DR. BETHANY YOUNG
Bethany Young is a lawyer, researcher, and policy expert with deep experience conducting legal and policy research about social stratification and its adverse effects on individuals in academic, professional, and legal settings. She worked directly with clients and other stakeholders for several years, including federal and state government officials, donors, and community organizers during her time at the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama and the Center for Death Penalty Litigation in North Carolina. In these roles, Bethany provided representation in capital appeals and pushed policymakers to reconsider the breadth and administration of the death penalty. She also led community discussions about racial and economic inequality, worked on a team to create resources to educate the public about racial injustice’s history, and participated in efforts to remove confederate monuments in southern cities.
Bethany’s legal background and social science research experience give her a unique lens on equity, inclusion, and justice issues. She has considerable experience designing, conducting, and presenting research using an intersectional lens. Bethany’s doctoral research centered on marginalized students’ experiences in school settings, investigating the relationship between school climate and students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes. This training prepared Bethany for community-centered criminal legal system research and policy work.
Bethany received a B.A. from Spelman College, a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Duke University.