Linda Phiri

Linda comes to Arnold Ventures as a Criminal Justice Research Fellow on a team that works across several research agendas and portfolios that use evidence-based methods to advance Arnold Ventures’ mission to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice.

Before joining Arnold Ventures, Linda served as an Adjunct Instructor in Criminology & Criminal Justice at American University and is a doctoral candidate in the AU department of Justice, Law and Criminology, completing her dissertation on officer perspectives on police reform in marginalized populations and is expected to graduate in Spring 2023. She holds a Master of Philosophy in development studies from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in both international and global studies and business with a minor in film, television and interactive media from Brandeis University.

She was recently awarded the Kerwin Doctoral Research Grant by the School of Public Affairs at American University and served as the President of Pi Delta Nu, American University’s chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honor society. She has presented papers at various conferences such as the American Society of Criminology and the Global Meeting on Law and Society. She is also a researcher in the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing inaugural program on Applied Criminology & Data Management.

Linda appreciates learning about and experiencing different cultures, enjoys music and movies (musicals are a plus), and connecting with her church community.