Faculty & Staff
Faculty
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Lori L. Hall, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Instruction
Phone: (727) 873-4077 |
Specialization: Critical Criminology, Trauma-Informed Practices, Transformative Justice, Power and
Identity
Dr. Lori L. Hall is an Assistant Professor of Instruction with over a decade of experience
in teaching and research, specializing in critical criminology, trauma-informed practices,
and transformative justice. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology with a concentration
in Crime/Deviance and Race from Virginia Tech, where her dissertation examined Race and Online Hate: Exploring the Relationship between Race and the Likelihood of
Exposure to Hate Material Online. Dr. Hall also holds an M.A. in Criminal Justice from Arkansas State University and
a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Dr. Hall's research agenda is deeply rooted in understanding how systems of power, oppression, and trauma interact within the criminal justice system, and how these dynamics contribute to crime and societal harm. She is particularly focused on how trauma influences criminal behavior, how interactions with the criminal justice system affect justice-involved individuals, and the ways police and correctional staff respond to trauma. Her current research explores the intersection of trauma and crime, examining how transformative justice models can offer alternatives to punitive systems and address the root causes of criminal behavior.
With a student-centered approach to teaching, Dr. Hall emphasizes the importance of equity, inclusion, and trauma-responsive pedagogy. She has developed a diverse range of courses, including Critical Issues in Policing, Trauma and Crime, Crime and Social Justice, and Criminal Justice Reform. Dr. Hall’s philosophy of teaching prioritizes creating inclusive and supportive learning environments that allow students from all backgrounds to thrive. She incorporates a variety of teaching methods to engage students and ensure that they not only grasp course content but also apply critical thinking to real-world social justice issues.
In addition to her academic work, Dr. Hall has professional experience in the criminal justice field, having served as an intake officer for a minimum-security incarceration program and a caseworker for juvenile diversion programs. These roles provided her with practical insights into the challenges faced by justice-involved individuals, and they continue to inform both her teaching and research. Dr. Hall's overarching research interests are trauma-informed practices, transformative justice, critical criminology, criminal justice reform, policing, corrections, and power and identity.