Brandon Alston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at The Ohio State University (OSU). Before joining OSU, Brandon completed his PhD in Sociology at Northwestern University, where he was a Doctoral Fellow at the American Bar Foundation and a Pre-doctoral Ford Fellow with the National Academies of Sciences. His research uses qualitative methods to examine how surveillance systems operate across poor neighborhoods, prisons, and parole programs. Several organizations have supported his commitment to research, including the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, the Social Science Research Council, and the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. Brandon’s research has also received awards from national professional associations, including the American Sociological Association, the American Society of Criminology, and the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Previously, Brandon also earned a Master of Science in Management (MSM) from Wake Forest University School of Business and served as a Corporate Fellow. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Religion (with distinction) from Haverford College, where he was a Mellon Mays Fellow.