Lisa Avalos

Dr. Lisa Avalos is a Professor of Law at Louisiana State University Law Center, holding the Hermann Moyse, Sr. Professorship. She currently holds a Visiting Research Fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) in London (2024-2025) alongside her Fulbright Scholar appointment at Queen Mary University London. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Sociology (Northwestern University, 1995), J.D. (NYU School of Law, 2006), and prior roles as an attorney and sociology professor.

Her research focuses on criminal law and procedure, with a special emphasis on sexual offenses and gender-based violence. She is completing a book analyzing systemic failures in police investigations of sexual assault cases across the UK and U.S., aiming to reform laws that criminalize victims of rape. This work builds on her earlier publications addressing false reporting charges, police accountability, and transnational legal frameworks.

• Education:
• Ph.D., Sociology, Northwestern University (1995)
• J.D., New York University School of Law (2006)
• B.A., Psychology, Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)

Her awards include the Fulbright Scholarship and recognition from advocacy groups like End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI), which adopted her research into police training materials. She also engages in public discourse through media appearances and op-eds addressing systemic injustices in criminal justice systems.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on Sex Crimes: Emerging Law & Policy Issues and Criminal Law. Her work bridges legal scholarship with grassroots advocacy, emphasizing equitable reforms for marginalized survivors.