The University of Oklahoma Carceral Studies Consortium is pleased to announce that David McLeod (Social Work), Dean Hougen (Computer Science), and Constance Chapple (Sociology) have received $30,000 in funding to develop their project. According to ICAST director Shane Connelly, projects that receive this funding are “poised to inform, guide and enact research and programs that will foster community resilience in Oklahoma. From understanding and mitigating the complex ways in which poverty impacts early child development to improving social equity in climate change resilience, these projects reflect creative approaches to difficult societal challenges.”
Below is a description of the project.
The research team will develop an interactive mobile app to track how youth in Norman, Oklahoma who have been referred to the juvenile division of the Municipal court diversion program adhere to and engage with recommended services. The app aims to mitigate the adverse effects of juvenile justice contact on youth development by diverting them from formal sanctions and providing services to improve overall youth wellbeing and avoid future involvement in the criminal justice system. Along with the app, the OU School of Social Work has developed practicum placements to assist in the intake, deployment, and case management of participating youth to further support successful outcomes for participating youth.
The Carceral Studies Consortium is hosted by the Gibbs College of Architecture.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture announces John Harris as Associate Dean for Research ad interim, effective Aug. 25, 2026, until the permanent position is filled.
Gibbs College is pleased to announce the 2026 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards recipients. These individuals were recognized by Dean Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting and will be honored during the Celebration Banquet in October. They were nominated by their colleagues via an open nomination process.
Telesis, the Gibbs College of Architecture’s student journal, has been awarded a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts to support its next two issues, “Pause” (Volume IX) and “React” (Volume X).
