Our 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.
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 Assistant Professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs. She is the author of Why Terrorist Organizations Form International Alliances published with University …
Kim Ball is the director of the Justice Programs Office, a center in the School of Public Affairs at American University, which has advanced evidence-based policies and practices and provided expertis…
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, comparative criminal justice, and police organization and procedures. He has published extensively in the area of cross-national…
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, Adjunct Instructor, and PhD candidate in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology. His research focuses on the nexus of law and civil conflict, specifically …
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 the full-time faculty of Justice, Law, and Criminology after a diverse career as both a trial attorney and as a policy advisor. Michelle began her legal career as a trial attorn…
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…
Jon Gould is a professor in the School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law. He was inaugural director of the Washington Institute for Public Affairs Research, chair for the Department …
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 a successful attorney, experienced professor, and proven leader with a long career in legal practice, research and communications. A graduate of AU’s School of Public Affairs an…
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. …
Professor Johnson's areas of expertise include the prison and other institutions of punishment and confinement, the death penalty, institutional violence, and race and justice in America. He has publi…
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…
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 at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Previously he served as Director of the Security Policy Studies Program at the George Washington University Elliott School o…
Sasha Cohen O’Connell, PhD is a Professorial Lecturer & Executive in Residence in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology, School of Public Affairs, American University where she currently teache…
Dr. Jane Palmer is the faculty director of the Community-Based Research Scholars program. In this role, she oversees a selective, living-learning community of first year students who learn how to cond…
Renee Nicole Souris, Ph.D. received her doctorate in Justice, Law and Society with a second field in Political Theory from AU's School of Public Affairs in May 2014. Broadly speaking, her research exa…
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…
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 …
Kevin Boyle has been an adjunct professor with Justice, Law, and Criminology 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 …
Alex Clayton is an Academic Counselor, Adjunct Instructor, and PhD candidate in the Department of Justice, Law & Criminology. His research focuses on the nexus of law and civil conflict, specifically …
Matt Collinson is a Senior Research Specialist / Senior Program Associate working on the OJJDP-funded Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts (JDTC) Initiative at the Justice Programs Office (JPO) at American …
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
Jason Fritz is a senior research analyst at The Brookings Institution where he studies political violence, state fragility and stabilization, and counter-terrorism.
Gregory A. Hunt, a member of the adjunct faculty of the Department of Justice, Law and Criminology, works in the conduct and development of research and training programs in the field of community cor…
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…
Erin Kearns is a PhD student in Justice, Law and Criminology at American University, with a minor in Public Policy. Her primary research seeks to understand the relationship among terrorism, counterte…
Dr. Trace Lasley is a Professor of Practice in the School of Public Affairs, Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology at American University. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the Uni…
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 JLC professor for over ten years. In her more than thirteen years as a …
Anthony Musa serves as a Sanctions Investigator at the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. At OFAC, Musa works in the Counterterrorism division. Outsi…
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 …