Zimife Umeh

Zimife Umeh is a PhD candidate in the sociology department. She received a B.S. in Finance and B.A. in Africana Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Her current research examines the collateral consequences of incarceration. In her dissertation, she looks specifically at the reentry experiences of formerly incarcerated mothers. She explores what types of institutions mothers engage with and what type they avoid following their release from prison. She also examines how their roles as caregivers, their relationships with their children, and relationships with their children’s caregivers (while they were incarcerated) shape their decisions to engage or avoid institutions. Finally, she examines the approaches used when engaging with institutions, and racial differences in utilized strategies.