Department of Sociology and Criminology
Interactions
Greetings to all! I hope you are well. This is our first fully electronic edition of the department newsletter. It allows more flexibility and permits us to provide information about our faculty and students in a more accessible format. We would love to hear your comments and any suggestions for improvement.
As you will see, the department continues to grow and excel. We have added new and remarkable faculty members, while at the same time our current members continue their impressive trajectories with success at the University and beyond. This includes having their research cited widely in academic and non-academic venues and influencing important policy issues in fundamental ways. Our students are also a source of great pride, both with regard to academic studies and co-curricular activities that deepen their knowledge of their chosen field. The latter includes a variety of internships and service opportunities that concern issues of key interest to sociologists and criminologists, such as incarceration, the safety net, and the work of nonprofits. It also involves helping our professors with their research, including co-authorship on studies. 

We hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter and, again, comments are welcome.

All the best,

Robert DeFina, PhD
Professor and Chairperson
Department of Sociology and Criminology
The Nova Network is Villanova's social and professional networking platform where alumni can connect with groups, find Villanovans in their industry or local area, offer career advice to students and access resources for experienced professionals.
New Faculty
Welcome Heidi Grundetjern, PhD
Villanova’s Department of Sociology and Criminology welcomes Heidi Grundetjern, PhD. She earned her doctorate and master’s in Sociology from the University of Oslo in Norway and previously taught at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her main research focus is investigating the role of gender in crime markets, and she is currently collaborating with Jody Miller, PhD, Rutgers University-Newark, on a longitudinal study about women’s participation in methamphetamine markets in Missouri. She specializes in qualitative research methods and in theoretical perspectives on gender and culture. In Spring 2020, she will teach a new course titled "Gender, Crime and Justice" which highlights how gender shapes patterns of offending and victimization.

In the Spotlight
Criminology major Raven James ’20 CLAS completed an internship this summer at George W. Hill Correctional Facility. She served as a case manager, was part of a wellness program and observed Prison Re-entry Education Program (PREP) classes. She comments on her experience and how it relates to her classes in the department. Read more
Lauren Perron ’18 CLAS graduated from Villanova as a double major in Criminology and Psychology, with minors in Sociology and the Honors Program. She is a second-year doctoral student at Temple University in the Department of Criminal Justice. She recently reflected on her experience at Villanova and how the faculty and the relationships she built with them prepared her for graduate school. Read more
Student News
2019 Criminology Debate Team
Congratulations to our criminology majors, Ryan Bowman '19 CLAS, Christopher Beute '19 CLAS, Lailany Viera '19 CLAS, and Caroline Rini '19 CLAS, led by Kelly Welch, PhD, who participated in the Sixth Annual Intercollegiate Criminal Justice Debate hosted by Drexel University.

Next year's debate will be hosted by Rowan University in the Spring of 2020.
Congratulations Award Winners
The medallion of excellence award winners are: Sarah Knowles '19 CLAS (Sociology) and Sarah Rizos '19 CLAS (Criminology)

The McGarry award winners are: Noelle Gambale '19 CLAS (Sociology and Criminology), Kaitlyn Murray '19 CLAS (Sociology), Bethany Ho '19 CLAS (Sociology), and Avery Takaha '19 CLAS (Sociology).
View previous award winners here.
Faculty Highlights
Jill McCorkel, PhD, received the 2019 University Mid-Career Scholar Award, recognizing a faculty member at the University for their growing body of scholarship or creative achievement. Dr. McCorkel is a highly engaged scholar, widely sought out for her expertise and eloquence. She has received funding for five research projects, received honors and awards in her discipline, has been cited more than 850 times and actively engages students in her research. Read more about the award.
Faculty Promotions

Jill McCorkel, PhD, was promoted to full professor.

Brianna Remster, PhD, was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor.
Faculty Research Highlights

A Philadelphia Inquirer article highlights Brianna Remster, PhD, and Rory Kramer, PhD, and their research on prison gerrymandering. Read more

Brianna Remster, PhD, was quoted in a PhillyVoice article discussing the Philadelphia Inquirer’s portrayal of crime.The article featured a letter signed by academics, including four of Villanova's Sociology and Criminology faculty, urging the Inquirer to “demonstrate a more factual and responsible approach to reporting on crime, punishment, rehabilitation, and safety." Read more

Lance Hannon, PhD, recently published an article in Contexts, the American Sociological Association’s quarterly magazine about society and social behavior. Read more

Read more about faculty research, publications and presentations.
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