Maria Barrera-Vilert

Maria Barrera-Vilert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology & Justice at Loyola University New Orleans, joining the faculty in 2024. Her research examines informal social control and vulnerability management in public spaces, particularly transportation systems, using mixed-methods approaches including social network analysis and discourse analysis.

• Educated with a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from The Graduate Center and John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY)

She teaches courses in criminology, criminal behavior, crime prevention, sociology, and advanced research methods. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Language and Politics and Society.