Research Assistants
Claudia Lomeli-Rodriguez
Claudia Lomeli-Rodriguez is a master’s student studying Justice Studies at San Jose State University. Her research interests focus on women’s reentry experiences and the role reentry center policies and practices have in shaping these experiences. Prior to joining the research team, Claudia served as editor-in-chief of The Annual Review of Criminal Justice Studies, an undergraduate journal that provides students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to be critical knowledge producers. Post-graduation, she intends to pursue a PhD in criminology to further feminist reentry research and policy implications.
Gabrielle Pitre
Gabrielle Pitre is a fourth-year student at Santa Clara University from Seattle, Washington, studying Political Science and Ethnic Studies. She is also VP of Events for IGNITE, a club dedicated to encouraging young women to be civically engaged. Before joining Clean Slate, she was an Ignatian Fellow, where she served as a research assistant for an immigration attorney in San José, CA. She was a Hackworth Fellow 2024-2025, researching the relationship between race and faith for Black Catholics. Gabrielle’s research interests include how race and public policy intersect and impact individuals’ experiences with the carceral system. After graduating from Santa Clara, Gabrielle intends to pursue a career in policy and advocacy.
Madelyn Vasquez
Madelyn Vasquez is a third year undergraduate at Santa Clara University pursuing a degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Pre-Law and minor in Sociology. Before joining the Clean Slate team, she was an intern at two Public Defenders Offices where she was able to talk to clients and do important work on cases that impacted people in the criminal justice system. Madelyn’s research interest include reducing incarceration rates for non violent crimes, youth incarceration and increasing rehabilitation among the recently incarcerated. She is excited to be a part of this team and do work that will positively impact communities in need. After graduating Santa Clara, she intends to pursue law school and become a Public Defender.
Joanna Wahmhoff
Joanna Wahmhoff is a Ph.D. student in Criminology and Justice Policy at Northeastern University. Her research interests encompass reentry post-incarceration, with a specific focus on collateral consequences and their interplay with poverty. She joined Northeastern in the Fall of 2024 and has since served as a teaching and research assistant within the criminology department. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Maryland: one in Criminology and Criminal Justice and the other in Anthropology.
Ainsley Zapata
Ainsley is a fourth year student at Santa Clara University studying Political Science and Spanish Studies with a minor in sociology. Born and raised in Irvine, she is a proud California native. Before joining the Clean Slate Research team, she interned in many different aspects of the political world and completed fellowships at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and PPIA Junior Summer Institute. Her research interests include making social welfare programs and education in the United States more effective, specifically through mixed methods. She is excited to work on this team and learn about the community effects of clean slate policies. Following a gap year, she intends to pursue a Masters in Public Policy.