Dr. Vanda Seward is a criminologist and researcher who serves as the Criminal Justice Program Director and Professor of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York, Kingsborough Community College. She has made significant contributions to the field with nearly four decades of hands-on experience in enhancing public safety.
Dr. Seward retired from the Kings (Brooklyn) County District Attorney’s Office, where she led the County Re-entry Taskforce. Before that, she was the Statewide Director of Reentry Services for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (Parole), overseeing a team that provided essential resources and services for individuals under community supervision.
She also served as the Executive Director of the Kings County District Attorney’s Office ComALERT program; the first full-service reentry initiative managed by a prosecutor’s office. Dr. Seward earned her PhD in Criminal Justice from Capella University with a dissertation titled “Examining the Community’s Response to Their Formerly Incarcerated Neighbors.” Additionally, she holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Iona College and a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from The College of New Rochelle.
Though retired, Dr. Seward remains active in advocacy, working to improve public safety for residents, staff, and families affected by the carceral system. To further her commitment to impactful work, she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Engagement Journalism at the CUNY Craig Newmark School of Journalism. In addition to her numerous publications and speaking engagements nationwide, Dr. Seward has received several awards and accolades for her contributions to the criminal justice field.
Dr. Seward is a Bronx native, a product of the NYC Board of Education system and New York City Housing Authority. She is a mother, grandmother, and in 2020 became a widow after 28 years of marriage.