Follow Me
Shirley P. Leyro, Ph.D.
EDUCATOR. SCHOLAR. AND RESEARCHER.
ON THE BLOG
Dr. Shirley Leyro, a Bronx native and critical criminologist, earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from CUNY’s Graduate Center and an M.A. in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. Dr. Leyro’s research focuses on how the fear of deportation impacts immigrant integration, causing emotional and psychological distress and creating barriers to acceptance in the U.S., termed “legal violence.”
She has received honors such as the American Society of Criminology Teaching Award and a Faculty Fellowship at the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics. Dr. Leyro has presented her work at numerous institutions and holds a Diploma in International Critical Criminology.
Hi, I'm Dr. Shirley P. Leyro, and I teach Criminal Justice and Urban Studies at BMCC – CUNY and I am the Administrative Director of The Bronx Health Link, Inc
welcome
Administrative Director
The Bronx Health Link, Inc. (TBHL)
Bienvenidos
PRESS & MEDIA
FEATURED IN
Born and raised in The Bronx, Dr. Shirley P. Leyro is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Borough of Manhattan Community College – CUNY and began her role as Administrative Director of The Bronx Health Link, Inc. in 2023.
A critical criminologist and activist, her research focuses on immigration, deportation, and the mental health impact of vulnerability to deportation. Dr. Leyro is also a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, collaborating with the NYC Department of Health to provide certification trainings across the city.
Criminal Justice Professor Shirley Leyro Receives Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant for Latina/O/X Researchers Support Network
If you're seeking a distinguished scholar, mentor, and speaker dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations, connect with Dr. Leyro to elevate your team's proficiency and insight.
New York : The Immigration Showdown | CUNY Forum
This CUNY Forum panel explored the impact of expanded immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, highlighting legal challenges, community fears, and concerns about threats to constitutional protections like birthright citizenship. Speakers discussed how immigrant communities—including Haitians with Temporary Protected Status—are facing increased uncertainty, economic strain, and misinformation.
Segment with Dr. Leyro's commentary begins at timestamp 16:00!
Program Coordinator; Urban Studies (A.A.)
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)
May 2025 | LATiNAS
On this episode of LATiNAS, host Tinabeth Piña visits Hanoli Cakes in Queens and learns how 3 generations of #Latinas serve up love and culture; we'll hear about one immigrant's mental health struggles due to the mass deportations in the USA & more!
Segment with Dr. Leyro's commentary begins at timestamp 16:05!
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Criminal Justice Professor Shirley Leyro has secured $284,940 in funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to create a Latina/O/X Researchers Support Network (LRSN).
The one-year grant will fund research and preliminary planning to form a nationwide professional and emotional capacity-building support space for Latina/o/x researchers across disciplines that will facilitate a commitment to research and to alternative methodologies in the pursuit of health equity for the U.S. Latina/o/x population.