Eric Jefferis

Dr. Eric Jefferis is a Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Kent State University's College of Public Health. As a founding faculty member of the college, he has contributed significantly to academic and research initiatives since joining in 2002. Prior to this role, he served as a research fellow at the Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence and held teaching positions in the Justice Studies Department. His professional background includes work with the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice as a social scientist.

Dr. Jefferis holds a PhD in Criminology & Policing from the University of Cincinnati (2004), an MA in Criminal Justice from Radford University (1993), and a BA in Administration of Justice from Pennsylvania State University (1990). His research focuses on spatial analysis, quantitative methods, and program evaluation within public health and criminology. Key themes include crime patterns, community policing, vacant housing impacts, and opioid overdose prevention in rural areas.

His teaching portfolio includes courses such as Quantitative Methods, Grant Writing in Public Health, and doctoral seminars on prevention science theories. His publications span over two decades, addressing topics like crime perception accuracy, geographic disparities in health outcomes, and the intersection of criminal behavior and environmental contexts. Notable works include mixed-methods studies on vacant housing and opioid overdose patterns using geospatial technologies.

Dr. Jefferis has advised numerous graduate students and contributed to grants focused on public health interventions and crime reduction strategies. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to bridge gaps between academic research and practical policy solutions, emphasizing data-driven approaches to community safety and well-being.