Victim Researcher Profile

BIO

My research to date has primarily focused on issues of gender and power in sexual violence, and inequitable treatment and consideration of vulnerable victims involved in the criminal justice (CJ) system. In that vein, two themes that run throughout my scholarship are 1) the representation of diverse populations as victims of sexual violence and 2) understanding antecedents and responses to gendered violence. 1) The representation of diverse populations as victims of sexual violence No one is immune from victimization and the detrimental effect victimization can have on an individual and community are not unique to certain groups. With that said, I feel I have a responsibility in my work as a victimologist to bring experiences of marginalized victims to the forefront. My work has addressed issues faced by Native Americans in the areas of sexual victimization and youth resiliency. My scholarship emphasizes more inclusive measurement tools and services that are culturally sensitive and highlight inequitable responses to Native American victims. Additionally, I am involved with a grant that focuses on translational research in the community through the National Institute of Health (NIH; housed at NAU in the Center for Health Equity Research). Through my role in this grant, I supervise a team of graduate students to develop a community-based research project. We have been working with the non-profit organization Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) to systematically evaluate their youth program which focuses on building resiliency and maintaining healthy lifestyles in Native American youth to effectively keep them out of the criminal justice system. I currently have a fellowship application under review that evaluates a victim services program aimed at serving rural and Native American victims. Additionally, I have written on LGBTQ+ victimization risk and presented on appropriate programming relevant to those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. 2) Understanding antecedents and responses to gendered violence. My research strives to answer the “why” and “how” questions associated with gendered violence. It is well documented and accepted by the field and public (generally) that gendered violence happens and is a social problem. My research delves into factors that contribute to gendered violence and how various societal responses and responses by the criminal justice system devalue and delegitimize the victim experience. I currently have a paper under review investigating the relationship between pornography consumption, masculinity, and campus sexual assault that suggests that the college campus environment reinforces female victimization through rape culture and negligent university responses. Another paper currently under review uses a theory of sexual terrorism in a neoliberal climate to understand sexual assault and its precursory conditions. My co-author and I are currently working to submit a book prospectus that further explores

VICTIMIZATION FOCUS

Campus Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse or Violence (other than campus sexual assault), Vicarious Trauma

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

American Indian and Alaska Native (tribal) victims, LGBTQ victims, Rural victims

RESEARCH EXPERTISE

Community-based participatory research, Data collection, Needs assessment, Program evaluation, Quantitative studies

VICTIM RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Needs assessment, Program evaluation