Biography
I joined the Sociology Department at LSU in 2016 after receiving my Ph.D. in Sociology
from Virginia Tech. My research examines the areas of urban policing, community policing,
policing and social control, police legitimacy, and race/ethnicity and policing. My
current projects involve evaluating the policing of public housing communities through
the use of banishment policies, and evaluating law enforcement attitudes post-Ferguson.
At present, my work has appeared in American Journal of Criminal Justice, Criminology & Public Policy, Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, Policing & Society, and Social Sciences.
My research and teaching are all shaped by my law enforcement background. From 2009-2012,
I worked for the Norfolk Police Department (NPD) in Norfolk, VA. During this time,
I worked exclusively in low income communities and spent the majority of my career
working for the NPD's public housing community policing unit. In 2011, I was awarded
with a Letter of Commendation from the NPD, named Police Officer of the Second Quarter,
and awarded with the United States Attorney’s Office Public Service Award. While this
experience has help shape my research, I love bringing my experiences into the classroom
to offer students insight that blends research and practice as it relates to all things
policing. Understanding that I would not be here without the mentorship of my own
professors, one of my greatest joys as a professor is to return that favor and mentor
students in any way I can to help them see their potential and achieve their career
goals.
Education
PhD: Virginia Tech University (2016)
Curriculum Vitae
Courses Recently Taught at LSU
(Syllabi are for illustrative purposes & subject to change)
- SOCL 4461: Criminology
- SOCL 7581: Race & Criminal Justice