She received her Ph.D from New York University, Silver School of Social Work. She holds an M.Sc. in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics, and a Dip.SW/M.S.W. (Equiv.) from the University of Bristol. Dr. Rees has worked in community and forensic mental health in the United Kingdom and New York City. Before joining the faculty at LIU, she taught at NYU Silver School of Social Work (B.S.W. and M.S.W.), Smith College School for Social Work (M.S.W.), and the Borough of Manhattan Community College, The City University of New York (Human Services). Dr. Rees’ primary research interests focus on juvenile and criminal justice, transgender and gender non-conforming youth, and Forensic Social Work. She has a commitment to conducting collaborative and culturally responsive community-based research to respond, inform and reform social policy, programs and services.