Kerwin Hall, Room 270 on a map
SPA: Justice, Law & Criminology 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8043 United StatesOur faculty comprise some of our nation’s foremost experts. They conduct international research and work with policymakers and practitioners to craft solutions to some of our nation’s most pressing security concerns. Through our renowned research centers, their scholarship is shared with the greater Washington community, across the nation, and around the world.
Dr. Jane Palmer is an Associate Professor with a primary focus on community-based participatory research, help-seeking, community-based responses to harm, and ending gender-based violence.
Sh…
Professor Addington’s research interests include the nature of violent crime and its impact on victims, measurement of crime, and utilization of U.S. crime statistics. Her current work focuses on i…
Dr. Irene Hyangseon Ahn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Justice, Law, & Criminology at American University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego in 2024, …
Dr. Bryan Arva is currently the Director of the Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Master's program. Additionally, he is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology …
Tricia Bacon, PhD, is an Associate Professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs. She directs the Policy Anti-Terrorism Hub at American University. She is the author of Terror in Tran…
Julie Marie Baldwin, PhD, is a Research Professor in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology at American University. She specializes in translational and evaluation research with a focus on court…
Dr. Bartholomew received his doctoral degree from the University of Maryland in 2012. His research focuses on issues related to the causes and consequences of terrorism and the impacts of state and lo…
Professor Bennett's research interests include comparative criminology and criminal justice as well as police organization and procedures. He has published extensively in the area of cross-national cr…
Kevin Boyle has been teaching in the Justice, Law, and Criminology Department since 2016. Mr. Boyle is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. During his 26 year career he…
TaLisa J. Carter, Ph.D. is a native of Long Island, New York, dedicated to understanding the interactions of deviance, social organizations, and race. Dr. Carter is an Assistant Professor in the Depar…
Dr. Davies is a historian of the European Union's constitutional and legal system. Dr. Davies teaches courses such as JLC-110 Western Legal Traditions and JLC-411 Great Trials in Legal History.
Professor Dreisbach earned a doctor of philosophy degree from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. His principal research…
Michelle Engert joined JLC as a full-time faculty member of JLC after a diverse career as a trial attorney and as a policy advisor. Michelle began her legal career as a trial attorney with the New Mex…
Professor Fabrikant is a faculty member in the American University, School of Public Affairs, Department of Justice, Law & Criminology (JLC). This Fall he will be teaching JLC-103 Critical Issues in J…
Professor Fagelson's research interests include ethical issues in law, politics and international relations as well as jurisprudence and and political theory.
He has published one book on …
Claire Griggs is a faculty member in the Department of Justice, Law and Criminology in the School of Public Affairs. Professor Griggs serves as the Dire…
Brian Hughes is a Research Assistant Professor in the program of Justice, Law, and Criminology. He is also the co-founder and Associate Director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovati…
Dr. Janice Iwama is an Associate Professor in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology at American University in Washington, D.C. She received her Ph.D. in Criminology and Justice Policy from Nort…
Robert Johnson is a professor of justice, law and criminology at American University, editor and publisher of BleakHouse Publishing, and an award-winning author of books and articles on crime and puni…
David Malet teaches Justice, Law and Criminology at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Previously he served as director of the Securit…
Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a sociologist and professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education, and is the founding director of the …
Dr. Ozeren is a Professorial Lecturer and Director of SPA's certificate in Cyber Policy and Management. His areas of expertise are political violence, terrorism, cybercrime and online radicalization, …
Dr. Jane Palmer is an Associate Professor with a primary focus on community-based participatory research, help-seeking, community-based responses to harm, and ending gender-based violence.
Sh…
PhD in political science, with over eight years in teaching (at the Central European University, Georgetown University and American University) transitional justice, violence and law, law and society,…
Dr. Stacie St. Louis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology at American University. Her research focuses on the administration of justice, including jails and pretri…
Jessica L. Waters, J.D., has 25 years of experience as a lawyer, scholar, teacher, and higher education executive. She is a nationally recognized expert in the fields of higher education leadership, s…
Professor Young's interests relate to the cross-national causes and consequences of political violence. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles across academic disciplines, including politica…
Thomas Zeitzoff (NYU PhD, 2013) is an associate professor in the Schoolof Public Affairs at American University. He was previously a postdoctoral…
Brian Forst joined the American University faculty in 1992, following three years on the George Washington University faculty. Before that, he was director of research at the Institute for Law and Soc…
Professor Golash's research interests center on the philosophy of law, particularly the moral justification of criminal punishment. She is the author of The Case Against Punishment (NYU Press 2005) an…
Professor Ronald Weiner has taught at AU since 1972. He is an expert on violent sex offenders and is regularly called as an expert witness by both prosecutors and defense attorneys across the country.…
Ajay Bhatt is a Senior Attorney with the Human Rights Law Division, part of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Previously, from 2001-20…
Dr. James Burrell is an accomplished leader with distinguished service as a senior federal government executive, corporate c-level executive, and academic/research professional. His leadership experie…
Travis Carlisle is an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology, School of Public Affairs (SPA), American University and currently teaches Intelligence Analysis at the graduat…
Khelani Clay is an assistant law librarian and professor at American University Washington College of Law in charge of access services and circulation operations. Professor Clay teaches Advanced Le…
Matt Collinson is an adjunct professor in the School of Public Affairs’ department of Justice Law and Criminology, where he teaches an undergraduate class on the history and purpose of the legal syste…
Clarence Crawford is founder and president of the Teach ‘em to Fish. The God-given value proposition for the ministry is to establish a business incubator that helps deserving people get a fresh st…
Jonathan Crock (pronouns: he, him, his) is an expert in democracy and human rights law. He researches the human right to democratic decision-making, including new developments in rights of direct poli…
Suat Cubukcu, Ph.D., is a Professorial Lecturer in Justice, Law, and Criminology Department at American University, specializing in the area of terrorism and methodological issues in terrorism researc…
- Investigator-in-Charge/Director of Investigations
John R. Firman is a Professor of Practice at American University, in the School of Public Affairs, Department of Justice, Law and Criminology. …
J. Edie Fortuna is a career public defender in Maryland. She worked as a trial lawyer in Baltimore City for 11 years, then in Southern Maryland for 6. She has had approximately 100 jury trials, defend…
Jason Fritz, Ph.D., is a researcher and consultant on peacebuilding, fragile and conflict states, the intersection of security and development, the politics of policing, and political violence. Prior …
Jennifer Gumbrewicz is currently the Director, M.S. in Counterterrorism and Homeland Security. She is a successful attorney, experienced professor, and proven leader with a long career in legal practi…
Bev-Freda holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English with a minor in African American studies from Gettysburg College. She is an alum of American University’s Department of Government …
Dr. Trace Lasley is a Professor of Practice in the Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy Program in the School of Public Affairs. He teaches courses on homeland security at the graduate and undergrad…
Charlotte Lopez-Jauffret is pursuing a doctoral degree in Justice, Law & Criminology from American University. In 2015, she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Colorado …
Aaron J. Lucas, III started his criminal justice career in the federal probation system at the Washington, D.C., United States District Court probation office in 1973. During the first 17 years in the…
Judge Patti Mitchell is a member of the Montgomery County, Maryland bench. She is an AU alumna (SPA ’76) and has been an adjunct Justice, Law and Criminolog…
Matthew Pascocello is an Adjunct Professor at both American University’s School of Public Affairs and at the Washington College of Law, where he serves as the Director of Alumni Professional Developme…
Kiran Raj is a senior executive in a financial technology company that operates in the blockchain space.
Prior to working in the fintech space, Kiran worked in private legal practice as a partne…
Rainey Ransom has been an Adjunct Professor at American University within the Department of Justice, Law and Society since 1991. Dr. Ransom was a full-time professor in the Department of Justice, Law …
Russell is Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at the American University's School of Public Affairs where he teaches a seminar on terrorism and American national security policy. He also has an appointment…
Ms. Rhea Siers combines her operational, legal and policy experience from over thirty years in the US Intelligence Community and the private sector to bring a multifaceted approach to intelligence and…
Michael Sullivan is an attorney and international relations professional with extensive experience working in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Vietnam, and Thailand. As an academic, Sulliva…
Jorhena Thomas has dedicated her career to finding meaningful ways to improve, enhance, and transform security efforts at all levels. She has extensive experience in intelligence analysis and investig…
Dr. Whitbread is an adjunct instructor, teaching courses in the department of Government and the department of Justice, Law and Criminology. Her primary research interests are comparative punishment p…
Zuberi Bakari Williams is an associate judge of the District Court of Maryland, District VI - Montgomery County. He was appointed by former Governor Martin O'Malley in December 2014. He was later con…