About Me

Kenya Brumfield-Young, MLS, MSCJ is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University, where she teaches in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program. She blends academic insight with real-world impact, preparing students for justice-related careers through applied coursework, hands-on case review, and professional development.

She developed and oversees the Wrongful Conviction Review Internship, a program that engages students in real post-conviction investigations. Students collaborate with innocence organizations, legal teams, and system-impacted families to support individuals claiming actual innocence. Professor Brumfield-Young also partners with local agencies such as the St. Louis County Family Court to examine trends in juvenile delinquency and inform practical, research-driven responses to youth crime.

Her research focuses on wrongful convictions, juvenile justice, reentry, and the intersection of trauma and justice involvement. She contributes regularly to policy discussions and provides expert testimony to Missouri lawmakers on topics related to post-conviction relief, crime prevention, and justice reform. Through media commentary and original articles, she elevates public understanding of systemic justice issues, with work featured in Missouri Independent, local television, and radio platforms.

Professor Brumfield-Young’s service extends deeply into the community. She collaborates with reentry programs, families, and public agencies to design trauma-informed strategies that improve safety and access to opportunity. Her work is grounded in a commitment to data-informed solutions that center fairness, prevention, and rehabilitation.

Her efforts have been recognized with numerous honors, including the 

• 2024 Dr. Norman A. White Award for Engaged Scholarship and Service, 
• Outstanding Professor of the Year awards (2019–2023), and the 
• 2022 Spirit of the Billiken Award.

She is a member of the American Society of Criminology, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the Missouri Juvenile Justice Coalition, and co-advisor for the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society.

For a list of media placements, please visit her Linktree. To learn more about her publications, legislative work, or upcoming presentations, contact Professor Brumfield-Young directly.

 I am the daughter of two Air Force veterans, and their service has deeply shaped who I am today. I carry with me a sense of duty, fairness, and pride, especially knowing they served our country at a time when it didn’t always serve them in return. From them, I learned the value of hard work, compassion, and empathy, and for that, I am forever grateful. 

 I’m a wife to an absolutely amazing man and a proud mother who enjoys every minute of it. When I’m not working, you can often find me fishing, reading, hanging out with my Jeep Club, or spending quality time with family and friends.