About
Carole Gibbs serves as Associate Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University and currently holds the position of Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Studies within the College of Social Science. Previously, she acted as Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, demonstrating sustained administrative leadership across critical academic domains.
Her educational background includes:
- PhD (2006), University of Maryland
- MA (2003), University of Maryland
- BA (1999), University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Gibbs' research program integrates systems theory with empirical analysis across three interconnected domains: corporate crime (particularly regulatory guardianship failures and transnational bribery), street crime (focusing on youth violence decision-making processes within neighborhood contexts), and transformative diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks in higher education. Her methodological approach bridges qualitative and quantitative techniques to unpack complex behavioral mechanisms, as evidenced by publications in Criminology, Crime & Delinquency, and the Journal of Higher Education Management.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals evolving research trajectories: early work established foundations in conservation criminology and environmental crime, while current scholarship demonstrates sophisticated integration of corporate crime theory with regulatory systems analysis and innovative DEI program development. Notable patterns include the application of rational choice theory to real-world youth violence contexts and systematic examination of how institutional guardians become offenders in corporate settings.
Her administrative roles directly inform research on sustainable DEI structures, with recent publications detailing MSU's Dean's Diversity Fellows Program and frameworks for moving beyond performative to transformative equity initiatives. As Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, she actively shapes graduate education while maintaining an active research agenda supported by external funding including NSF EAGER grants.
