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Shelly McGrath

Shelly McGrath

Associate Professor
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UBOB 216

Research Interests: Fear and perceived risk of victimization, domestic violence, victim advocacy, violent crime

Office Hours: T/TH 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (online); or in person by appointment

Education:
  • B.A., Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame
  • M.A., Ball State University
  • M.A., Ball State University
  • Ph.D., Southern Illinois University

Dr. McGrath's research interests encompass two main areas. The first relates to intimate partner violence, including patterns, the advocate experience for victims, and the availability of services for victims, especially in rural areas. The second involves comparative analyses of fear and perceived risk of victimization at the international level, including the relationship between citizen satisfaction with local police and perceived safety. She is also interested in crime mapping and innovative uses of that computer software.

Her publications appear in Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Deviant Behavior, Journal of Community Psychology, Security Journal, American Journal of Criminal Justice, Aggression and Violent Behavior, Sociological Focus, and Sociology of Sport.

Download Curriculum Vitae

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  • Recent Courses
    • Introduction to Criminal Justice
    • Crime and Criminality
    • Introduction to Statistics
    • Research Methods in Criminal Justice
    • Criminal Justice Ethics
    • Spatial Analysis and Crime Mapping
    • Seminar in Research Design
    • Seminar in Data Analysis
    • Introduction to Sociology
  • Select Publications
    • Melencia Johnson, Shelly A. McGrath, and Michelle H. Miller, “Effective Advocacy in Rural Domains: Applying an Ecological Model to Understanding Advocates’ Relationships,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence (DOI: 10.1177/0886260513516862).
    • Ruth Chananie-Hill, Shelly A. McGrath, and Justin Stoll, “Deviant or Normal? Female Bodybuilders’ Accounts of Social Reactions,” Deviant Behavior 33 (DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2011.647592): 811-30.
    • Shelly A. McGrath, Melencia Johnson, and Michelle Hughes Miller, “Social Ecological Challenges of Rural Victim Advocacy: An Exploratory Study,” Journal of Community Psychology 40 (No. 5, DOI: 10.1002/jcop.21484): 588-606.
    • Shelly A., McGrath, Suzanne E. Perumean-Chaney, and John J. Sloan III, “Property Crime on College Campuses: A Case Study Using GIS and Related Tools.” Security Journal (advance online publication, June 4, 2012, DOI: 10.1057/sj.2012.24).
    • Shelly A. McGrath, Catherine D. Marcum, and Heith Copes, “The Effects of Experienced, Vicarious, and Anticipated Strain on Violence and Drug Use among Inmates,” American Journal of Criminal Justice 37 (DOI: 10.1007/s12103-011-9127-1): 60-75.
    • Shelly A. McGrath, Ashlyn Abbott Nilsen*, and Kent R. Kerley, “Sexual Victimization in Childhood and the Propensity for Juvenile Delinquency and Adult Criminal Behavior: A Systematic Review,” Aggression and Violent Behavior 16 (DOI: 10.1016/j.avb.2011.03.008): 485-92.
    • McGrath, Shelly A. and Stacilyn Chananie-Hill. “Individual-level Predictors of Perceived Safety: Data from an International Sample.” Sociological Focus 44(3): 231-254.
    • Shelly A. McGrath and Ruth A. Chananie-Hill, “’Big Freaky Looking Women’: Normalizing Gender Transgression through Bodybuilding,” Sociology of Sport 26: 235-54. Reprinted in Sex, Gender, and Sexuality, Abby Ferber, Kimberly Holcomb, and Tre Wentling, eds. (Oxford University Press, 2012).
  • Academic Distinctions & Professional Memberships
    • American Society of Criminology
    • Mid-South Sociological Association
    • North Central Sociological Association