SAC hires three new faculty members from August 2013
March 20, 2013
SAC is happy to announce that we have concluded our searches for 2012-2013 with very exciting results. In late summer 2012, we got permission to search for two new tenure-lines, one in Physical Anthropology and one in Criminology with a focus on Juvenile Justice. The department was well prepared for the search processes and moved quickly to post the positions and review application materials. In the process, we realized the great potential of our pool of applicants in the Criminology search and asked permission to make two hires from this search, which, founded on the immense popularity and growth of our CRM program, was eventually permitted. Thus, the SAC faculty is from August 2013 joined by three new Assistant Professors:
Megan Moore is a forensic anthropologist and bioarchaeologist with research and consulting experience in Southeast Michigan, Cyprus, and Colombia; she has three years of teaching experience from UM-Dearborn. Megan Moore will offer a full range of physical anthropology courses in support of our ANTH program as well as a new study abroad opportunity in France where she has access to a large collection of human remains from 7th-11th centuries AD. She has developed forensic anthropology courses (field and laboratory) and will, through her local connections, be able to provide forensic anthropological experiences for students from our ANTH and CRM programs. In Colombia, Megan Moore trained forensic professionals in excavation methods and skeletal trauma analysis. Additionally, she studies the biomechanical shape changes as a result of body mass and obesity using CT scans and 3-D computer modeling
Kimberly Barrett is finishing her PhD at University of South Florida. She comes to SAC with extensive expertise in "green criminology" – an area of criminology which includes the study of how the exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment both harms individuals and can be a cause of anti-social behavior. Kim Barrett's dissertation work is focusing on the connection between lead (Pb) exposure and crime across communities in the city of Chicago, including an examination of lead and juvenile arrest rates. Her most recent research integrates green criminology with studies of school violence, and as such, supports SAC's interdisciplinary program in Schools, Society and Violence (SSV). Kim Barrett will work with colleagues on developing a new concentration in the undergraduate CRM program to focus on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency.
Brian Sellers is finishing his PhD at University of South Florida. His work focuses on juvenile justice policy, for example how juveniles' development and competency affects the justice of them being waived into the adult criminal justice system for harsher punishment. He has also worked on mental health evaluation instruments of juveniles in confinement. His dissertation focuses on various "zero tolerance" policies in schools in the US. Based on his interest in psychological jurisprudence Brian Sellers has worked with restorative justice, which is important as the foundation for Michigan's laws on handling juvenile offenders. Brian Sellers will work with colleagues on developing a new concentration in the undergraduate CRM program to focus on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency.