Cynthia Lum

Dr. Cynthia Lum is a Distinguished University Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University, directing the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy. She specializes in evidence-based policing, police technologies, and translational criminology. Lum holds advanced degrees from the University of Maryland (Ph.D.), London School of Economics (MSc), and UCLA (B.A.).

Her research focuses on patrol operations, crime prevention, and institutionalizing evidence-based practices in law enforcement. Notable works include Evidence-Based Policing: Translating Research Into Practice, which earned the 2020 ASC Outstanding Book Award. She has served on National Academies committees addressing policing and global justice reform.

Lum’s awards include the ASC Herbert Bloch Award (2023), Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award (2020), and Mason Presidential Medal (2017). She leads major grants totaling over $28 million, including projects on clearance rates, airport security, and police technology impact studies.

Teaching includes courses like Evidence-Based Policing and Crime Policy at GMU, plus international training programs. She advises doctoral students on topics like co-responder systems and crime clearance strategies. Lum’s work bridges academia and practice through journals like Translational Criminology and policy tools for real-world implementation.