Marie-Helen Maras

Marie-Helen Maras is a tenured Full Professor at the Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). She directs the Center for Cybercrime Studies and holds faculty roles in the Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Program and the CUNY Graduate Center's PhD program in Criminal Justice. Her expertise spans cybercrime, transnational security, digital forensics, and cybersecurity. She has led over $6 million in federal grants, including projects on darknet fentanyl trafficking and institutional cybersecurity. Dr. Maras is a globally recognized author with books like *Cybercriminology* (Oxford UP) and serves as a UNODC advisor on cybercrime and human rights. Her research addresses emerging tech threats, cyber-resilience, and the legal impacts of digital advancements.

• Education:
• DPhil in Law, University of Oxford
• MPhil & MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Oxford
• BS in Computer Science & Psychology, University of Maryland

Her research focuses on transnational cybercrime, darknet markets, and tech-driven crimes like deepfakes and virtual kidnapping. She advises on cybersecurity policy, cyberlaw, and human rights implications of surveillance. Recent work explores AI ethics, digital privacy, and cyber-resilience strategies.

Awards: 2024 Faculty Scholarly Excellence Award; 2024 John Jay Heroine (CUNY's Women's History Month honor).

Grants & Leadership: Directed NIH-funded darknet fentanyl projects; NSF grants improving cybersecurity infrastructure. Serves as Chair of the American Society of Criminology's Cybercrime Division Policy Committee.

Public Engagement: Extensive media contributions on cybercrime (BBC, NBC, CBS), TV appearances on cybersecurity issues, and expert commentary in major outlets.