Alyce McGovern

Alyce McGovern is an Associate Professor in Criminology at the School of Social Sciences, UNSW Sydney. Her work bridges crime, media, and culture, focusing on police-media relations, police use of social media, digital communication and law, and the criminological dimensions of craftivism and yarn bombing. She is an author of the monograph Craftivism and Yarn Bombing: A Criminological Exploration (Palgrave, 2019) and co-author of influential works such as Policing and Media: Public Relations, Simulations and Communications (Routledge, 2013) and Sexting and Young People (Palgrave, 2015).

Education

• Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching, University of New South Wales (2011)
• PhD, University of Western Sydney (2009)
• Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology) Honours (First Class), University of Western Sydney (2004)
• Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Criminology, University of Western Sydney (2003)

Research Interests
Alyce's research interrogates intersections between criminal justice, digital culture, and creative activism. She has pioneered studies on police communication strategies in social media spaces and youth digital behavior in the context of sexting practices. Her work on craftivism reimagines grassroots art as a tool for social change and crime prevention.

Grants and Recognition
Recipient of the Criminology Research Council/Australian Institute of Criminology grant (2011) for the project Sexting and Young People: Perceptions, Practices, Policy and Law. Recognized with the Dean's Award for Achievements by an Early Career Researcher (2016) and nominated for the UNSW Scientia Education Academy Exemplary Teaching Practice Awards (2021).

Academic Leadership
Progressed from Lecturer in Justice Studies (Charles Sturt University, 2008–2010) to Lecturer (2010–2012) and Senior Lecturer (2012–2018) in Criminology at UNSW before being promoted to Associate Professor (2018–present).