Dr. Melissa Pritchett

Associate Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology

Dr. Pritchett (nee Petkovsek) teaches Criminology, Graduate Methods of CJ Research, Graduate Statistics for CJ, and special topics courses:  Violence and the Brain, Forensic Psychology of Eyewitness Identification, and Jury Behavior

• Research interests include biosocial criminology, in which she examines antisocial and violent behavior through the intersection of genetics and environmental factors
• She frequently mentors student research projects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels  
• Dr. Pritchett holds degrees from:

Sam Houston State University (2014) Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Tiffin University (2010) M.S. in Criminal Justice & Forensic Psychology

The College of Wooster (2008) B.A. in Psychology

Publications include:

Petkovsek, M.A. (Forthcoming). Chains in BioShock: The illusion of freedom and free will. In J. Grubb & K.F. Steinmetz (Eds.), Crime Games. Routledge.

Steinmetz, K.F. & Petkovsek, M.A. (2022). Perilous policing: An analysis of the Resident Evil series. Critical Criminology, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-022-09640-1

Schaefer, B.P. & Petkovsek, M.A. (2017). Adolescent Use of Opioids and Stimulants: Testing the Influence of Peers, Self-Control, and Sports Participation. Criminal Justice Studies, 30 (4), 365-380.

 Petkovsek, MA. & Boutwell, B.B. (2014). Childhood Intelligence and the Emergence of Self-control. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41(10), 1232-1249.

Petkovsek, M.A., Boutwell, B.B., Beaver, K.M., & Barnes, J.C. (2014). Prenatal Smoking and Genetic Risk: Examining the Childhood Origins of Life-Course Persistent Offending. Social Science and Medicine, 111, 17-24.