Rachael Hampton

Rachael Hampton is a 2025-2026 Self Memorial and Allen S. Wilber Scholar pursuing an M.A./Ph.D. in Sociology. She holds a B.G.S. in Sociology and Applied Behavioral Science, with a concentration in Community Health and Development from the University of Kansas. As an undergraduate, Rachael earned the Certificate in Service Learning through her work with the Lawrence Community Shelter and by completing her Community Health and Development practicum with the Kansas Board of Indigents' Defense Services (BIDS) in Topeka. She also completed an undergraduate honors thesis in Sociology, examining how adolescent involvement in the criminal justice system impacts educational attainment and income in youth adulthood. Rachael has presented her research at local, regional, and international conferences, including the University of Kansas Undergraduate Research Colloquium and Symposium, the Alpha Kappa Delta Undergraduate Research Symposium, and the 2025 Midwest Sociological Society conference. Her academic accomplishments led to her induction into Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society, and her graduation as a distinguished Sociology major. She was also awarded the Stephen B. Fawcett Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Health and Development in Applied Behavioral Science. Rachael's long-term goal is to work in prison education and develop post-secondary education programs within state prisons across Kansas.