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Shirley P. Leyro, Ph.D.
EDUCATOR. SCHOLAR. AND RESEARCHER.
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Loading...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 Urban Studies at BMCC – CUNY and I am the Administrative Director of The Bronx Health Link, Inc
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Administrative Director
The Bronx Health Link, Inc. (TBHL)
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PRESS & MEDIA
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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.
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!
Program Coordinator; Urban Studies (A.A.)
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)
Anti-Immigrant Sentiment: History and Need for Reform
In a conversation with Dr. Shirley Leyro, associate professor of criminal justice at Borough of Manhattan Community College, host Sheryl McCarthy explores anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. Professor Leyro notes that while it seems to be rising, such feelings have always existed and are often exploited by politicians. She outlines the historical discrimination faced by various immigrant groups and discusses changes in immigration policy, particularly during the Trump administration, which increased enforcement and deportations.
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.