Teaching

I have taught a range of courses in the past and developed new courses to supplement the existing curriculum. I love the classroom environment as it allows me to challenge students to think critically, examine other viewpoints, and problem solve.

CRM1100 - The Criminal Justice System

Semesters Offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023

This course provides an overview of the US Criminal justice system, with a focus on case processing of adults.  Students will gain a thorough understanding of the historical development of the criminal justice system, how police, courts, and the correctional system operate, and how these branches work together to form a single justice system.  Current policy issues and reforms will be assessed, with a focus on evidence-based policies to produced desired outcomes (e.g., crime control, proportional punishment, equitable treatment). Overarching themes investigated throughout the course include discretion among criminal justice actors, disparities in justice processing, balancing the various objectives of criminal punishment (e.g., crime control, just deserts, rehabilitation), decentralization of decision-making, and “best practices” for a criminal justice system in a democratic society. 

CRM4000 - Research Methods in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Semesters Offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022

This course introduces students to a variety of research methods employed in the field criminology and criminal justice. The course provides a foundation for students to undertake research projects within their major. Students learn about the nature of scientific inquiry, how to conduct criminological research, and its application to the criminal justice system. Topics covered include the differences between quantitative and qualitative data, sampling, experimental and quasi-experimental research designs, survey research, secondary data analysis, and the analysis of official agency records. Students complete a semester-long research project in order to demonstrate their understanding of the course material and apply it to their particular interests in the criminal justice system. 


CRM4500 - Statistics in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Semesters Offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2024

This course introduces students to both descriptive and inferential statistics in criminology and criminal justice. Students become familiar with available datasets in criminology and criminal justice including the National Incident-Based Reporting SystemUniform Crime Reports, National Crime Victimization Survey, and self-report studies. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify which statistical techniques are the most appropriate for the type of data collected, as well as be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each technique. Topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation, chi-square, and multivariate regression. Students will learn to analyze real data and interpret results using IBM® SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software. 

CRM6040 - Communities, Space, and Crime

Semesters Offered: Spring 2023

This graduate seminar examines the patterns and correlates of crime in communities. You will gain a thorough understanding of space and place, particularly as it relates to local neighborhoods and cities. You will be able explain the dominant methods and issues in spatial research into communities and crime. A thorough understanding of the theories associated with community crime will be assessed, with a focus on social theories.

CRM5010 - Police, Courts, & Corrections

Semesters Offered: Fall 2022 (Directed Study)

This course examines the origins, evolution, and continuing refinement and development of the US Criminal justice system, with a focus on adults. You will gain a thorough understanding of the historical development of the criminal justice system, how police, courts, and the correctional system operate, and how these branches work together to form a single justice system. Current policy issues and reforms will be assessed, with a focus on evidence-based policies to produced desired outcomes (e.g., crime control, proportional punishment, equitable treatment). Overarching themes investigated throughout the course include discretion among criminal justice actors, disparities in justice processing, balancing the various objectives of criminal punishment (e.g., crime control, just deserts, rehabilitation), decentralization of decision-making, and "best practices" for a criminal justice system in a democratic society.


CRM6240 - Advanced Research Methods in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Semesters Offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Summer 2023

This course focuses on the research designs most often used in evaluating the effectiveness of criminal justice policies, and programs. Emphasis will be placed on experimental and quasi-experimental designs, questionnaire and scale development, and data collection methods in applied settings. Applications to police, courts, corrections, and crime prevention programs will be examined. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to successfully design their own research and execute evaluations in a variety of criminal justice agencies.

Courses of Interest 

(Classes to teach in the future)

✦ Introduction to Criminology ✦

 ✦ Youth & Crime ✦

✦ Crime Mapping/GIS ✦

✦ Incarceration & Communities ✦