Ph.D. Students

Priscilla Aybar

Priscilla is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant in the International Crime and Justice Program at FIU. She holds a BA in International Criminal Justice with a double minor in Political Science & Criminology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a MA in Strategic Communication from Seton Hall University.  Her research interests include Cyber Organized Crime and National Security.

Email:  Payba001@fiu.edu

Charlie Berichi is a Ph.D. Candidate in the International Crime and Justice Program and serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Florida International University. He holds a BA in Criminal Justice and an MPA from Florida Atlantic University. His research focuses on aviation security, anti-terrorism, and policing.

Email:  cberichi@fiu.edu

Emilie Christiansen

Emilie is a Ph.D. student in the ICJ Program at FIU and also an Interdisciplinary Writing Teaching Assistant. She earned her M.S.. in Criminal Justice and B.S. in Criminal Justice from Florida International University, as well as her Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Southern Denmark. Her current research interests include transnational crime, environmental crime, crime mapping, and situational crime prevention.

Email:   gechri033@fiu.edu

Mary Dwyer

Mary is a Ph. D student in the ICJ Program. She earned a BA in Sociology and Criminology from Albright College and an MS in Criminal Justice from Buffalo State College. Her research interests include innovative policing methods, intimate partner violence, and prostitution.

Email:  mdwye007@fiu.edu

Amirhossein Mazaheri

Amir is a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant here at FIU. He earned his M.A. in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance from the University of Padua, an LL.M. in Criminal Law and Criminology from the Islamic Azad University Science & Research Branch, and an LL.B. degree from Payame Noor University. Amir's research interests include terrorism, radicalization, environmental criminology, transnational crimes, as well as policies related to human rights and the death penalty.

Email:  amaza021@fiu.edu

Giselle Kleiban

Giselle is a Ph.D. student in the ICJ Program at Florida International University. She holds an A.A. in a Criminal Justice Pathway from MDC and a B.A. in Psychology with Minors in Forensic Studies and Honors from Nova Southeastern University. She worked as a Crime Scene Technician for approximately two years at the Hialeah Police Department. Her current research interests include murder-suicides, intimate partner violence, homicides, and racial profiling.

Email:   gklei011@fiu.edu

Chelsea Lopez

Chelsea is currently a Ph.D. student in the International Crime and Justice Program. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University, a M.S. in Forensic Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and a Graduate Certificate in Crime Analysis from the University of Central Florida. Her research interests include sentencing, jury selection, restorative justice, cybercrime, and crime and the media.

Email: clope302@fiu.edu 

Dylan Matthews

Dylan is a Ph.D. student in the ICJ Program at FIU. He holds a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Criminal Justice, a M.S. in Criminal Justice, and a Master in Public Administration. He previously worked as a graduate research assistant on the Data-Informed Prosecution Project and served as an inaugural UGS Writing Fellow. His research interests include drug-related crimes and prevention, prosecution, and law enforcement applications of geographic information systems. 

Email:  dmatt001@fiu.edu

Patrick Moricette

Patrick is a Ph.D. student at FIU and is currently serving as a teaching assistant. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). His areas of interest include corrections, human trafficking, the effects of traditional bullying and cyberbullying on Haitian immigrants, and the effects of predatory/forced marriage on undocumented Haitians. 

Email:  pmori004@fiu.edu

Md. Harun Or Rashid

Rashid is a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant here at FIU. He comes to FIU with over 15 years of civil and criminal courtroom experience within the Judiciary of Bangladesh. He holds his LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from the University of Missouri School of Law, as well as a Master of Governance Studies, LL.M., and LL.B. degrees from the University of Dhaka. Rashid's research interests include access to justice, transnational crime, and forensic evidence.

Email:  mrash021@fiu.edu

Jessica Rich

Jessica is a Ph.D. student here at FIU. She earned her B.A. in Psychology at Florida Gulf Coast University and her M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida State University. Her areas of interest include corrections, programming and rehabilitation, and community reentry. Her current research focuses on the role of prison visitation for older individuals who are incarcerated.

Email:  jrich171@fiu.edu

Rafael Rodriguez

Rafael is a Ph.D. student and also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer with us at FIU. He holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration Degree, both from FIU, as well as a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from St. Thomas University. Rafael is a Police Lieutenant, managing the Robbery Bureau's Special Investigations Section within Miami-Dade Police Department, where he's served for over 27 years. His research interests include the impact of community-oriented policing programs, transnational crime, and innovative policing policies.

Email:  rrodr400@fiu.edu

Rachel Silverthorn

Rachel is a Ph.D. student in the International Crime and Justice Program at FIU. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Eastern Washington University, where she was a McNair Scholar. Her research interests include judicial proceedings and treatment of defendants and offenders within the criminal justice system. Rachel currently works as a graduate research assistant in the Center for the Administration of Justice.

Email: rsilv104@fiu.edu

Troy Teresak

Troy is currently a Ph.D. student and Teaching Assistant in the International Crime and Justice program at FIU. He holds an M.S.. in Applied Intelligence from Mercyhurst University and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Lock Haven University. His current research interests include juvenile delinquency, victimology, gender inequalities, crime prevention, and racial biases.

Email:  ttere004@fiu.edu 

Gabriella Zelaya

Gaby is a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant in the International Crime and Justice Program at FIU. She holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International University, as well as a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. Gaby's research interests include addressing mental health concerns within criminal justice systems, the role of mental disorders on criminal behaviors, and domestic violence within immigrant communities.

Email: gmart163@fiu.edu