Justice in Mexico’s Staff

Dr. Shirk is Director of Justice in Mexico, Associate Professor and Director of the M.A. program in Political Science and International Relations at the University of San Diego. He is also a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Mexico Institute. Dr. Shirk conducts research and publishes on topics related to Mexican politics and U-S.-Mexican relations. He frequently serves as policy advisor, consultant, and expert witness on matters concerning crime and violence, judicial reform, and human rights issues in Mexico. In 2016, Dr. Shirk received USD's prestigious International Impact Award for his contributions to USD’s international education goals to promote global education and understanding.

Jeniffer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies, with a focus on Political Science, from the University of California, San Diego, where she served as vice president of the International Studies Student Association. Jeniffer is a first-generation college student pursuing a Master’s Degree in international relations at the University of San Diego. Currently, she achieves global impact at the local grassroots through the San Diego Diplomacy Council as a program assistant, seeks to positively impact her community by means of research, citizen diplomacy, and contributing time and effort where needed. Jeniffer is inspired by engaging with different international aspects and cultures, such as languages, dances, customs, and cuisine. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, and working to become trilingual in Korean.

Stephanie England is a 2025-2026 intern for Justice in Mexico and a graduate student at the University of South Florida pursuing dual degrees in Intelligence Studies and Management with respective concentrations in Strategic Intelligence and Quantitative Management. She is also pursuing graduate certificates in National Security Studies and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She holds dual Bachelor's Degrees in Business Analytics and Information Systems and Management at the University of South Florida. She is engaged with research on and off campus, and aspires to work in either election security or in consular affairs. She is proficient in Spanish and English, and hopes to become proficient in Portuguese as well.

Ms. Deaton has served as Training Director for Justice in Mexico since 2013. She has previously worked to advance oral advocacy skills and advanced litigation techniques in Mexico and other Latin American countries with various organizations, including the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and Acceso Capacitación (Cal Western School of Law) since 2006. In addition to her work with Justice in Mexico, Ms. Deaton works in private practice as a criminal defense attorney, handling cases including immigration violations and narcotics trafficking. In 2016, Janice Deaton received the distinguished Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award from the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies for her exceptional legal representation and advocacy for the underserved communities within the region.