Linda M. Merola

Dr. Linda M. Merola is an Associate Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy. She holds a Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School. Her research focuses on constitutional law, privacy implications of police technologies (e.g., LPR systems, body cameras), counterterrorism policies, and evidence-based court practices. Notable awards include the 2016 Students As Scholars Mentoring Excellence Award.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Government, Georgetown University (2008)
• J.D., George Washington University Law School (2005)

Research emphasizes societal impacts of advanced policing technologies and public/expert perceptions of civil liberties in security contexts. Courses taught include Constitutional Law, Privacy and Technology, and Evidence-Based Policy. She supervises doctoral students in criminology and legal studies.

Awards:

• Harold N. Glassman Award for Excellence in Research (Georgetown, 2008)
• Teaching Excellence Award finalist (GMU, 2016)

Advising/Grants: Supervised 3 doctoral dissertations and led studies funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Active in policy translation initiatives like TSA playbook implementation assessments.