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Dr. Shirley P. Leyro earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the CUNY Graduate Center and her M.A. in Criminal Justice from John Jay College, where she graduated with honors.
Dr. Shirley P. Leyro serves as an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY), where she educates and mentors the next generation of leaders in criminal justice and public service. In 2023, she was appointed Administrative Director of The Bronx Health Link, Inc., where she leads initiatives that advance health equity, strengthen community partnerships, and improve outcomes for underserved populations throughout the Bronx and beyond.
Shirley P.
Leyro, Ph.D.
Born and raised in the Castle Hill Houses in The Bronx, Shirley Leyro, Ph.D., is a critical criminologist and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Borough of Manhattan Community College–CUNY. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the CUNY Graduate Center, and her scholarship focuses on immigration, deportation, immigration enforcement, crimmigration, and the mental health impact of deportation vulnerability on immigrant communities.
Dr. Leyro’s award-winning research has examined how the fear of deportation creates psychological distress, barriers to integration, and forms of legal violence within immigrant communities. She also conducted the CUNY Belonging Study, examining belonging and inclusion across the university, and received the Barbara R. Walters Community College Faculty Award for her published scholarship stemming from that work.
A recognized scholar, educator, and public-policy expert, Dr. Leyro has received numerous honors, including the Teaching Award from the American Society of Criminology's Division of People of Color and Crime and a Faculty Fellowship with the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics. She has presented her research at professional conferences, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and is frequently invited to share her expertise on public-policy panels and through television, radio, podcasts, and print media. Her work bridges scholarship, public policy, and community engagement to advance more equitable and evidence-informed approaches to immigration, criminal justice, and higher education.
Beyond academia, Dr. Leyro leads community- and policy-based initiatives that advance health equity, support Latina/o/x scholars, and strengthen pathways between research, practice, and public policy.