Mahesh Nalla

Mahesh Nalla is a Professor and Interim Director at the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice. His career spans global initiatives including UN leadership roles in firearm violence prevention and editorial stewardship of the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice for 24 years.

• Education: PhD and MA in Criminal Justice (University at Albany, SUNY), MA and BCom (Andhra University, India)

His research focuses on security governance, trust in public/private policing, and gendered spaces in emerging democracies. Recent publications examine:

• Pandemic policing dynamics in Russia and India
• Xenophobia and migrant crime perceptions
• Police legitimacy in transitional societies
• Gender-based violence attitudes across cultures

Scientific accolades include:

• Freda Adler Distinguished Scholar Award
• Gerhard O.W. Mueller Award
• 1999 UCEA Creative Program Award for pioneering online criminal justice education