ICJ Ph.D. Alumni

Raymond Partin

Raymond "Doug" Partin graduated with his Ph.D. in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2023. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Southern Indiana. His research interests include cybercrime, cybersecurity measures, and dark web use.

Kimberly Przeszlowski

Kimberly Przeszlowski graduated with her Ph.D. in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2023. She is presently an assistant professor at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Her research interests involve the use and impact of police technology on violent and property crime, as well as public perceptions associated with police practices.

Wendy Dressler

Wendy Dressler graduated with her Ph.D. in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2023. She is presently a Research Manager for The GEO Group. Her primary area of expertise is in corrections, reentry, correctional administration, mixed research methods, and spatial analysis. Currently, she oversees the evaluation of post-release services for returning citizens, rehabilitation services in custody, and staff and leadership wellness in corrections.

Maria Arndt

Maria graduated with her PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2022 and is currently an assistant professor in the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Her research interests include racial disparities in the American criminal justice system, as well as studying the effects of social and legal discrimination of ethnic minorities around the world.

Christopher Torres

Christopher graduated with his PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2022. He presently is an assitant professor at Loyola University New Orleans. His primary area of expertise is in geographic information systems, multilevel modeling, and quantitative research design. His research examines criminal decision-making, geospatial and econometric crime analysis, crime prevention through environmental design, environmental justice, and applied criminal deterrence.

Caroline V. Comerford

Caroline graduated with her PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2022. Her research interests include violent serial crime, situational crime prevention, & geospatial analysis. Caroline holds a B.A. in Justice Studies from Montclair State University and a M.A. in Criminal Justice specializing in criminology & deviance from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Brent Blakeman

Brent graduated with his PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2022. He also has a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and a M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. His research interests are in crime prevention through environmental design, terrorism, human trafficking, and juvenile delinquency.

Olga D. Vega

Olga Vega graduated with her PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2021. Her research interests include disability awareness training in law enforcement and officers’ confidence in police interactions with the disabled individuals. Olga holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a M.S. in Criminal Justice from FIU.

Sara McFann

Sara graduated with her PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2021. She is actively involved in research projects on domestic violence, wildlife crime, situational crime prevention, policing, and program evaluation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from FIU.

Anna Leimberg

Anna Leimberg graduated with her PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2021. She also holds a B.S. in Sociology and an M.S in Criminal Justice. She currently is an assistant professor Ausin Peay State University. Her current research interests include domestic violence, unstructured socializing with peers, antisocial behavior, and adolescent drug use.

Sinchul Back

Sinchul graduated with his PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2020. He also holds a B.S. in Leadership and Political Science from Northeastern University and a M.S. in Criminal Justice from Bridgewater State University. His research interests include cybercrime, cybersecurity, and terrorism. He currently is an assistant professor at the University of Scranton.

Joelle Lee-Silcox

Joelle Lee-Silcox graduated with her Ph.D. in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2020. Joelle also holds an MA in Criminal Justice from FIU and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Miami Dade College. Joelle currently works within the City of Miami Police Department as the Chief of Staff, Research, Planning and Data Officer. Joelle’s research interests include geospatial crime analysis, crime and the media, and crime prevention.

Erik Cruz

Erik Cruz graduated with his PhD in International Crime and Justice from FIU in 2020. He also holds a MS in Criminal Justice and a BA in Sociology from Florida International University. His research interests include environmental criminology, terrorism and homeland security, and crime mapping. Erik is currently an assistant professor at Florida Memorial University.