Jaclyn Smith

Jaclyn is a research and evaluation expert who provides program management and subject matter expertise to a range of programs at the national, state, and local level. She has expertise in using mixed method approaches and participatory action research framework while prioritizing trauma-informed, victim-centered methodologies, and the inclusion of survivors in her research.

Jaclyn directs needs assessments for, and evaluations of, national training and technical assistance centers. This work includes assisting clients and grantees with developing measurable objectives and evaluation plans, designing program evaluation instruments, developing customized databases that track program activities and outcomes, and analyzing and reporting data. She is well versed in assisting with programmatic and financial capacity building for grantees in the criminal justice and public health sectors.

Jaclyn is committed to elevating the voices and perspectives of those most impacted by crime and victimization. She collaborates with federal agencies to better understand the measurement of adolescent teen dating violence, and the differences between healthy and unhealthy behaviors, as defined by youth. Jaclyn collaborates with tribal communities to identify and respond to needs in their communities and she also works with states on developing and implementing data-informed strategic plans to address identified gaps in meeting the needs of victims of crime. Throughout all her work, Jaclyn prioritizes community-based participatory research frameworks, best practices, and emerging trends in implementation science.

Earlier in her career, Jaclyn worked at the Vera Institute of Justice on a variety of projects addressing victimization of people with disabilities and those individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Jaclyn was also a lecturer at The University of Maryland, College Park; the College of Notre Dame of Maryland; and Tiffin University, where she designed and taught undergraduate courses in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Social Problems, and graduate-level Statistics.

Jaclyn received her doctorate in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland, College Park. She served as a reviewer for the Criminology and Public Policy journal. For the past five years, she has been a peer reviewer for the National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office on Violence Against Women. She co-authored journal articles for publications such as the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice and the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.