10/29/25

HAYS, Kan. — Dr. Ziwei Qi, associate professor of criminal justice at Fort Hays State University, has been selected to join the highly competitive 2025–2026 Investigators Cohort of the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network’s (JCOIN) Learning Experiences to Advance Practice (LEAP) program.

The LEAP program, led by national research leaders from George Mason University, Sam Houston State University, and New York University, is a year-long fellowship designed to support early- to mid-career scholars working at the intersection of public health, criminal justice, and substance use treatment. Dr. Qi was selected from a national pool of outstanding applicants for her commitment to trauma-informed justice, public health policy, access to legal services, and the prevention of relationship violence.

Over the next year, Dr. Qi will participate in monthly virtual training sessions focused on grant proposal writing, publishing, community-engaged research, and research-to-practice translation. The program also includes individualized mentorship and access to a national network of JCOIN researchers and practitioners committed to evidence-informed justice reform.

As part of the fellowship, Dr. Qi will attend the 2026 Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH) Conference in Atlanta, Ga., where LEAP fellows will convene for in-person collaboration and professional development.

“I’m honored to be selected for this national cohort of scholars through the JCOIN LEAP program,” Dr. Qi said.  “This opportunity will strengthen my ability to lead community-engaged, evidence-informed research focused on rural and underserved populations affected by substance use and justice involvement. I’m especially excited to deepen my skills in grant development, team science, and cross-sector collaboration.”

The LEAP Investigator Track is a cornerstone initiative of JCOIN.