My academic career has been non-traditional, to say the least. After years as a practitioner and adjunct instructor, I came to the University of Southern Mississippi in 2022 in a teaching-focused (non-tenure) role. Recently, I successfully participated in a competitive, open hiring process to obtain my current, tenure-track position. My career, as a whole, has been similarly less-than-traditional, beginning with an accidental entry into the social service field, and culminating with a decade of direct clinical/forensic service in community and home settings with several complex client populations, before my transition to academia.

 

My academic work is defined by a commitment to methodological innovation and evidence-based reform in criminal justice. I developed a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure (CYOA) research paradigm, which enables the study of sequential decision-making in realistic legal scenarios. My research centers on the study of wrongful convictions, contextualized within the cumulative disadvantage framework, with specific interests in legal decision-making and sexual violence.

 

To-date, I have authored or co-authored 14 peer-reviewed articles and a host of book chapters. My work has appeared in journals such as Law & Human Behavior, Psychology Public Policy & Law, the American Journal of Criminal Justice, Sexual Abuse, and the Albany Law Review. To support this work, I've earned competitive grant funding totaling nearly $45,000, including support from the American Psychological Association and multiple university awards. Recent projects include analysis of National Registry of Exonerations data, Louisiana parole board decision-making, and Title IX policy effectiveness.

 

As part of my work at Southern Miss, I've served as Graduate program Director since 2023, with the mission of revamping the school's Master of Science in Criminal Justice program to strengthen student outcomes. With multiple reforms and strategic investments, the program is currently tied for 48th place in U.S. New and World Report rankings, and expected to grow further. Likewise, I have mentored students through honors theses, graduate capstone projects, and research assistantships—many of whom have presented at regional conferences or secured research funding. My teaching has been recognized for innovation and effectiveness, including a Summer Grant for Improvement of Instruction for my redesign of the Criminal Justice Ethics course.

​

Before joining USM, I held a statewide director-level position in one of the nation’s largest indigent legal defense systems, supporting thousands of attorneys and participating in strategic litigation efforts. I have also worked as a forensic clinician and expert in child welfare, juvenile justice, and criminal court settings.