Brenda Sims Blackwell

Brenda Sims Blackwell serves as Senior Associate Dean and Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology at Georgia Southern University, where she joined as department chair in July 2014. Previously, she served on the faculties of Pennsylvania State University and Georgia State University, where she spent 15 years before coming to Georgia Southern.

Dr. Blackwell earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University (1990), followed by an M.A. (1992) and Ph.D. (1995) in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma. Her academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both criminal justice and sociological theory.

Her research primarily focuses on women and crime, with particular emphasis on gender differences in offending patterns and variations in criminal justice responses to male versus female offenders. She has developed expertise in examining and adapting traditional theoretical perspectives to better understand female criminal behavior. Dr. Blackwell has also conducted significant research on the commercial sexual exploitation of children, with specific attention to Georgia's response mechanisms and comparative analysis with other jurisdictions. This work has received funding from the National Institute of Justice and the Governor's Office for Children and Families.

Analysis of her 117 research outputs reveals consistent scholarly productivity across multiple domains within criminology, with particular concentration in gender studies, theoretical integration, and criminal justice policy. Her publications span theoretical examinations of gender and crime, empirical studies of judicial decision-making, and practical assessments of criminal justice programs.

• Outstanding CTW Ambassador and Assessment Report (Georgia State University, 2009)
• Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Excellence in Teaching Award (2012)
• Nominated for Who's Who in Social Sciences Higher Education (2004)
• Gene Carte Student Paper Competition - First Place (American Society of Criminology, 1992)
• Southwest Sociological Association Master's Level Student Paper Competition - First Place (1992)

Dr. Blackwell is deeply committed to student development, currently chairing the student-awards committee for the American Society of Criminology. Her research on academic advisement's impact on career outcomes demonstrates her dedication to understanding how educational experiences translate to professional success for criminal justice graduates. Her scholarly work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to gender equality and justice system reform.