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About<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Tara O\u2019Connor Shelley is Professor and Director of the Institute on Violence Against Women and Human Trafficking<\/a> in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Public Administration at Tarleton State University. Dr. Shelley received her Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University and her MS in Justice, Law and Society from the American University. She previously worked as an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Crime and Justice (CSCJ) in the Department of Sociology at Colorado State University. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Shelley worked for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA). Dr. Shelley has over 29 years of professional research and evaluation experience involving 30 federal, state, local and privately funded research grants. During her career, Dr. Shelley has worked with well over 60 international, federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies on assorted projects. Her work has led to over $1.5 million in external funding for research and evaluation projects. She has 42 technical reports related to the results of her evaluation research, has co-edited two books, and has authored over 43 journal articles, book chapters, and magazine\/newsletter articles. Dr. Shelley has recently published in Feminist Criminology, Rural Sociology, Social Forces, and Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management. In 2020, Dr. Shelley received the University Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award and the prestigious designation of Fulbright Scholar from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2006<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Florida State University
Dissertation Title: Environmental Threat, Environmental Crime Salience, and Social Control
Advisor: Professor Ted Chiricos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

M.S. in Justice, Law and Society
The American University
Advisor: Professor Brian Forst<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1995<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B.A. in Government
The University of Redlands<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Professional Experience<\/h2><\/div>
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2018-Present<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fulbright Scholar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director of the Institute on Violence Against Women and Human Trafficking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Center for Environmental Studies(Faculty Affiliate)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Criminal Justice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarleton State University \u2013 Fort Worth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

August 2016-2018<\/em>
Associate Professor<\/strong>
Director of the Institute for Criminal Justice Leadership and Public Policy<\/strong>
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Strategic Studies
Tarleton State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses Taught at Tarleton: Foundations of Criminological Theory, Victimology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2012-August 2016<\/em>
Associate Professor
<\/strong>Center for the Study of Crime and Justice (CSCJ) (Co-Director)
` Environmental Justice CSU Working Group (Co-Founder and Co-PI)
Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis (CDRA) (Faculty Affiliate)
School of Global Environmental Sustainability (Faculty Scholar)
Center for Women\u2019s Studies and Gender Research (Faculty Affiliate)
Department of Sociology
Colorado State University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2006-2012 <\/em>
Assistant Professor<\/strong>
Center for the Study of Crime and Justice (CSCJ)
Center for Women\u2019s Studies and Gender Research (Faculty Affiliate)
Department of Sociology
Colorado State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses taught at CSU: Environmental Justice, Law Enforcement and Society, Criminology, Comparative Criminal Justice Systems, Comparative Crime and Deviance, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Social Problems, Green Criminology, and Capstone Seminar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1999-2006<\/em>
Instructor & Teaching Assistant<\/strong>
College of Criminology & Criminal Justice<\/strong>
Florida State University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses Taught: Introduction to Law Enforcement, Police Problems and Practices, Criminal and Delinquent Behavior, Qualitative Observation, Diversity and Justice, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Practical Survey Research, and Research Methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2005-2006<\/em>
Government Analyst<\/strong>
Office of Statewide Intelligence
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsibilities: Provided research and statistical analysis for several projects related to law enforcement issues. Primary responsibilities included report writing and statistical analysis of firearm-related crime in the Northern District of Florida for the U.S. Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2002-2005<\/em>
Assistant Editor and Richard L. Rachin Fellow
Journal of Drug Issues, Florida State University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsibilities: The Journal of Drug Issues (JDI) is a well-recognized refereed publication in the addictions field. JDI is a multidisciplinary journal with domestic and international contributors and subscribers and is dedicated to providing a professional and scholarly forum on national and international problems associated with illicit drugs. Typical journal duties included: reviewing incoming manuscripts for publication consideration; drafting rejection letters that addressed specific manuscript weaknesses in order to assist the author(s) improve the piece before submitting it to another publication outlet; selecting appropriate referees for manuscript review and communicating with them on a regular basis; reconciling conflicting publication recommendations from referees; reviewing galleys prior to publication; and assisting with a variety of other editorial responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2001-2002<\/em>
Research Consultant
The Policy Lab, Washington, D.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsibilities: Conducted research for government funded research projects related to law enforcement issues. Project work involved researching and writing reports on diversity programs and strategies in the Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston Police Departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996-1999<\/em>
Research Associate
Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Washington, D.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsibilities: Supported government and privately funded research projects related to law enforcement issues. Responsibilities included proposal development; design of research methods; preparation of literature reviews; survey design and administration; data management and descriptive statistical analysis; qualitative field research; development of training curricula, final reports and related publications; management of training, technical assistance, workshops and conferences. See externally-funded research section for additional information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1995-1996 <\/em>
Program Assistant
Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA), Washington, D.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsibilities: Researched, compiled, and edited publications and special reports; provided technical assistance and program analysis; and managed workshops and conferences. See externally-funded research section for additional information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1994
Program Analyst, Internship
U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch, Washington, D.C.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsibilities: Provided qualitative and quantitative information for state and local program workshops and fact sheets. Assisted in the planning and implementation of state and local program workshops. Provided assistance to the lead agency contact on the BJA Firearms Trafficking Control Program. Covered congressional hearings on criminal justice issues.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Training\/Certification<\/h2><\/div>
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