Huan Gao

Dr. Huan Gao is a Professor of Criminal Justice at California State University, Stanislaus, where she has served since 2007. She holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University's School of Criminal Justice (2008). Her research focuses on youth gang involvement, substance abuse impacts, and qualitative criminological methods. Notably, she received the Wang Family Faculty Award (2011-2012) and conducted research at the University of Oxford's Center for Criminology in 2022.

Her research examines intersections between substance abuse, gender, and criminality, particularly in global contexts. Recent work emphasizes rural youth gang socialization, urbanization effects, and migration's role in crime patterns. She has authored influential books on gang dynamics in California's Central Valley and drug control policies worldwide.

• Education: Ph.D. in Criminal Justice (Rutgers University, 2008)
• Awards: Wang Family Faculty Award (2011-2012)
• Visiting Scholar: University of Oxford (2022)

Dr. Gao's publications span monographs, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed articles addressing drug policy comparisons, gendered substance abuse effects, and youth gang prevention strategies. Her work bridges macro-level societal changes with micro-level criminal behavior analysis.