Assistant Professor
California State University East Bay
Dr. Zixiaojie (Jill) Yang is an Assistant Professor in Social Work at California State University, East Bay. Driven by a commitment to learning, advocacy, and collaboration, Jill’s work focuses on justice-involved youth and their families, juvenile justice reform, and community engagement. Her research employs a mixed-methods approach, centering the voices of those directly impacted by the justice system. Her doctoral dissertation, conducted with deep respect for lived experiences, used a case study design to explore the unique experiences of families affected by Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences (JLWOP) through a community-based mutual aid group. As an educator, Jill teaches social justice and social work courses for undergraduate and MSW students, fostering critical thinking and a commitment to equity.
Jill earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago in 2017 and her Ph.D. from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago in 2022. She further advanced her research as a postdoctoral scholar with the Social Justice Institute at Case Western Reserve University from 2022 to 2024.
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