The College of Humanities and Social Sciences' Undergraduate Academic Affairs office has announced Erin Eife, an assistant professor in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society, as the First-Year Faculty Fellow for the Residential Learning Community for the 2026–2027 academic year.
In this role, Eife will lead academic programming for our First-Year Residential Learning Community students and will guide them through an engaging curriculum centered around the theme, “Justice in Focus: The Meaning of Freedom in a Changing World.” Through a dedicated lecture series and interactive discussions, the program invites students to think deeply about liberty, fairness, and modern global challenges.
Some highlights for the current semester include a community movie night and an experiential learning trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Students will also work on first-semester vision boards reflecting their personal and academic journeys.
Eife’s appointment aligns closely with her scholarly expertise. Her research explores the pretrial stage of the criminal legal system and its impact on access to citizenship rights in the United States. Notably, her upcoming book, Freed Without Freedom, is scheduled for publication next year with NYU Press. Outside of her research and teaching, Eife enjoys reading contemporary fiction, watching reality TV, and cheering on the Philadelphia Phillies.