Jane Hereth, PhD

Dr. Jane Hereth (she/they) is an assistant professor in the Social Work Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Hereth’s research examines the determinants and impacts of social and structural exclusion, gender-based violence, and criminal legal system involvement on the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth. Their recent work examines young transgender women’s trajectories of carceral involvement and victimization. Dr. Hereth’s research and teaching are informed by their social work practice with LGBTQIA+ youth and survivors of gender-based violence.

Dr. Hereth received the 2020 Award for Distinguished Feminist Scholarship and Praxis in Social Work from Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration
• MSW, University of Illinois at Chicago
• B.A., Grinnell College

Current Funding:

• 2023-2025: Co-Investigator (PI: Fedock). The impact of collateral consequences on help-seeking and help-attainment for behavioral health needs for women with criminal records. National Institutes of Health.
• 2023-2025: Co-Investigator (PI: Shorey). A mixed-method study on transgender and gender diverse adults’ alcohol use. National Institutes of Health.
• 2023-2024: Co-Investigator (PI: Wesp). Community shot clinics to support self-management of gender-affirming hormone therapy. UWM Discovery and Innovation Grant.
• 2021-2024:Co-Investigator (PI: Shorey). Alcohol-related intimate partner violence among transgender and gender non-conforming adults. National Institutes of Health.

• 2021-2024: Principal Investigator. Using the life history calendar to examine young transgender women’s trajectories of violence, mental health, and protective processes. National Institutes of Health.
• 2021-2024: Principal Investigator. Exploring the acceptability, feasibility, and benefits of a mentoring program for transgender youth and adult mentors. Fahs-Beck Fund for Research and Experimentation.

Select Recent Publications:

• Hereth, J. E. (2023). “I Don’t Think the Police Think We’re Human”: Legal Socialization Among Young Transgender Women. Journal of Homosexuality. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2023.2225985
• Hereth, J. E., & Durand, B. (2022). Incorporating transgender-affirmative practice models into substance use treatment and prevention. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 23(2), 152-160.org/10.1080/1533256X.2022.2106736
• Hereth, J. (2022). Overrepresentation of people who identify as LGBTQ+ in the criminal legal system. MacArthur Foundation.
• Hereth, J. (2021). ‘Where is the safe haven?’: Transgender women’s experiences of victimization and help-seeking across the life course. Feminist Criminology. 16(4), 461-479. doi.org/10.1177/15570851211010951
• Hereth, J., Garthe, R., Garofalo, R., Reisner, S. L., Mimiaga, M. J., & Kuhns, L. (2021). Examining patterns of interpersonal violence, structural and social exclusion, resilience, and arrest among young transgender women. Advance online publication. Criminal Justice and Behavior. doi.org/10.1177/0093854820938420
• Hereth, J., & Bouris, A. (2020). From smart decarceration to abolition: Centering the experiences of LGBTQ youth within the criminal legal system. Journal of Women and Social Work: Anti-Carceral Feminisms: Imagining a World Without Prisons, 35(3), 358-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886109919871268
• Hereth, J., Pardee, D. J., & Reisner, S. (2020). Sexual orientation and gender identity development among young adult trans men sexually active with cisgender men: “I had completely ignored my sexuality, I was like, that’s for a different time to figure out.” Culture, Health and Sexuality, 22sup:1, 31-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2019.1636290