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. Davies is approaching the study of the European Union legal system from a fresh perspective by critically examining the development of the constitutional practice of law in the EU from a historica…
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. In addition to her work at AU, s…
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 Why Terrorist Org…
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…
A lawyer and social scientist, Prof. Barron received her Master’s degree from the Department Of Justice, Law and Criminology at American University. She practiced criminal law as both defense counsel …
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 h…
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…
Alex Clayton is an Academic Counselor, Instructor, and PhD candidate in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology. His research focuses on the nexus of law and civil conflict, specifically how the …
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…
Dr. Davies is approaching the study of the European Union legal system from a fresh perspective by critically examining the development of the constitutional practice of law in the EU from a historica…
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 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 the natur…
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 Director of the Politics, Policy and Law (PPL) Schol…
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…
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…
Professor Iwama’s research primarily focuses on examining local conditions and social processes that influence hate crimes and racial profiling, particularly against Latino and immigrant populations. …
Lallen T. Johnson is a social scientist that studies how crime and justice outcomes vary across urban space. He is particularly concerned with how social structural and institutional processes facilit…
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…
Dr. Kareem L. Jordan is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Public Affairs and Associate Professor in the Department of Justice, Law and Criminology at American University. He has…
Currently, I am Assistant Professor of Justice, Law and Society at American University. I have both a PhD in modern European history and a JD in law from Stanford University. My approach to issues of …
David Malet teaches Justice, Law and Criminology at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Previously he served as director of the Security Policy Studies Program at the George Washingto…
Cynthia Miller-Idriss is Professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education, and runs the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) in the Center for Universit…
Sasha Cohen O’Connell, PhD is an Executive in Residence in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology, School of Public Affairs (SPA), American University where she currently teaches cyber policy at…
From 2014 - 2021, Dr. Palmer was the founding faculty director of the Community-Based Research Scholars program. In this role, she created and oversaw an intensive living-learning community of first y…
Jessica Waters is the Dean for Undergraduate Education and a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs as well as an adjunct faculty member at the Washington College of Law. Her research focuses …
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 School of Public Affairs at American University. He was previously a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University. His research focuses…
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.…
Andrea Artero is a law enforcement professional and an Adjunct Faculty member teaching the Intelligence Analysis class for the Department of Justice, Law and Criminology at the American University in …
Alex Clayton is an Academic Counselor, Instructor, and PhD candidate in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology. His research focuses on the nexus of law and civil conflict, specifically how the …
Matt Collinson serves as an adjunct professor in the department of Justice Law and Criminology, teaching classes related to the interactions of systems of justice, and the role of race relations in cr…
Jonathan Crock (pronouns: he, him, his) researches the human right to democratic decision-making, focusing on new legal developments in rights of direct political democracy, environmental democracy, e…
- Investigator-in-Charge/Director of Investigations
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 …
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…
Mr. Steven Jansen is the Director of Prosecutors against Gun Violence (PAGV). PAGV is a non-partisan membership advancing prosecutorial and policy solutions to the public health and safety crisis of g…
Jayme Johnson was a police officer in London's Metropolitan Police Service for ten years. He focused on community policing, public order, and the investigation of domestic violence and sexual offenses…
Les Kaplan is a clinical supervisor and consultant in the treatment of trauma and post traumatic stress disorder. He currently maintains a practice in psychotherapy concentrating on anxiety and mood d…
Dr. Trace Lasley is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology in American University’s School of Public Affairs. His research focuses on illicit organization behavior …
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 Criminology professor for over ten years. In her more …
Anthony Musa (pronouns: he, him, his) researches counterterrorism, illicit finance, cryptocurrency, and international human rights issues related to LGBTQ+ people. At present, Musa works for the Offi…
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 Developm…
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 …
Dr. Beatrix Siman Zakhari has taught the Justice Program in Washington Semester for the past 21 years. She has also created a Law Enforcement Program within the Washington Semester and has taught the …
Carley Weted is a doctoral student in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Her research interests include investigations of environmental factors with effects on …
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 late…