CSU SOC superstar Anne Uhlman defended her dissertation, “Sources of Care in Systems of Control: Understanding the Perspectives and Experiences of Those Supporting Loved Ones in Community Corrections,” at 10am on a Monday morning, then took us on a deeper dive into her research that same afternoon. When her Sociology-in-Progress (SiP) talk began at 2pm, she was introduced as Dr. Uhlman!
“Anne’s research shines a much-needed light on the individuals who sustain community corrections through care, encouragement, and sacrifice—Primary Support Persons (PSPs) of those serving a sentence. Through grounded theory and participatory methods, her work documents both the burdens and the deep relational commitments that shape these experiences, complicating the boundaries between support and state surveillance. It is an important contribution to the sociologies of punishment, care work, and reentry,” describes her advisor, Dr. Tara Opsal.
In Anne’s SiP talk, “Balancing Acts: How Social Supports Navigate Care and Compliance in Community Correction,” she shared insights from her collaboration with Dr. Opsal and Larimer County Community Corrections, as well as her direct work with PSPs. “I can’t explain enough how valuable it was to be able to step into a developing project and watch Dr. Opsal model participatory action research methods.” Despite initial recruitment challenges, Anne’s work marks the first known study examining the experiences of PSPs.
The Launch of an Impactful Career
Anne had multiple job offers earlier this fall, and in September she began working as the Director of Research at Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. She is charged with developing a research team and processes for conducting new studies, as well as increasing awareness of how current research can support community organizations, legislative efforts, and litigation. Recently she helped package the organization’s existing findings into materials for OK Appleseed’s director to present at the state capitol. Afterwards as Anne engaged with legislators, she identified additional needs for translating research and enhancing its accessibility for broader audiences.
OK Appleseed’s confidence in Anne extends to supporting her vision for future research. She is already holding focus groups around juvenile justice issues in Oklahoma – work that expands on the organization’s previous research by developing a new project that includes the people who are living the experiences Anne sees OK Appleseed being able to help improve. While she is also writing research communications and designing project management protocols, Anne is most excited about the freedom to assess needs and develop participatory action research projects centered around community voices.
Advancing Excellence
Reflecting on Anne’s contributions and achievements, Dr. Opsal shared, “It has been a privilege to walk alongside Anne during her PhD journey. Watching her growth, learning from her insights, and collaborating with her on impactful work has been truly inspiring. Anne embodies our department’s dedication to community, collaboration, and problem-solving.” Dr. Opsal also extended her gratitude to Anne’s dissertation committee members—Jessie Harney (Political Science), KuoRay Mao, and Jeff Nowacki—for their invaluable mentorship and guidance.
Anne’s journey began in Oklahoma where she majored in theatre and music as an undergraduate. “While I was at Oklahoma State, I volunteered with a nonprofit where I taught playwriting and acting in Oklahoma prisons,” she described. “I really enjoyed that work, but I realized in talking to the men there that the services available to them were incredibly sparse. I already had an interest in mental health, so I decided to get my master’s in counseling with the intention of working in prisons.” She became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) through Boston University’s mental health counseling and behavioral medicine master’s program. Afterwards, Anne found herself working more in jail and court settings than in prisons. “Again, I really liked the work I was doing, but I got frustrated with the structural problems I saw,” she explained. “I realized that I was more interested in addressing those issues and continuing the research I’d begun during my master’s program. I decided to come to CSU and study sociology – again with the intent of someday moving back into the criminal justice-related space. And here I am!”
Congratulations, Dr. Uhlman! We look forward to your continued success in leading important and impactful efforts around evidence-based advocacy, community collaboration, and justice reform.
