Faculty and students from the Department of Criminology attended the 2022 Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA) Research Showcase in Asheville, NC last week. The conference celebrated 50 years of SCJA and emphasized the organization's formation and focus on building young scholars.
Associate Professor Ráchael Powers, PhD, who serves as second vice president of SCJA, participated in a panel that discussed perfecting grad school and employment applications. Associate Professor Joan Reid, PhD, LMHC, CRC was a member of a panel that provided on tips on making good research decisions. Reid also served as chair of the panel "Responding to Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) of Minors" and gave a presentation titled, "Development of Trauma Bonding Measure in the Context of Sex Trafficking." Associate Professor Shelly Wagers, PhD presented her research, "Assessing the Relationship between State Firearm Legislation and Rates of Intimate Partner Homicide," with alum Meghan Scott. Faculty members George Burruss, PhD; Chae Jaynes, PhD; and Richard Moule, PhD gave a presentation titled, "Should I Stay or Should I Go: Contemplating Risk about Uncertain Situations during a Pandemic."
Vanessa Centelles and Jacqueline Leon received Student and Untenured Faculty Awards to attend and present
at the conference. Leon presented her research with alumna Cassandra Dodge: "Military
Sexual Assault Case Outcomes: Do Extra-legal Factors Predict Punitiveness?" Centelles,
a PhD candidate, presented "The Effects of Race on Perceptions of Male College Student-athlete
Sexual Assault" – her research with Ráchael Powers. Doctoral students Kacy Bleeker, Klejdis Bilali, and Carl Reeds also presented at the conference.
Find the full list of presentations in the SCJA Conference program here.