Mary Fran Malone

Professor Mary Fran Malone holds a faculty position in the Department of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire’s College of Liberal Arts. She specializes in crime, democracy, and Latin American governance. Her research examines crime’s impact on democratic institutions and migration trends, with a focus on Central and Latin America. She teaches courses on international relations, crime, and policy.

Education:

• Ph.D., Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
• M.A., Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
• B.A., International Relations & Spanish, Saint Joseph’s University

Research Interests:
Crime’s political consequences, public opinion on security, authoritarianism, and migration drivers in Latin America. Recent work includes analyzing police reform, drug wars, and gendered violence in Central America.

Selected Contributions:
Authored books on police reform and rule of law in Central America. Over 30 peer-reviewed articles on crime, democracy, and public policy. Key publications include studies on Nicaragua’s policing and Mexico’s drug war.

Awards:
2022 J. Brent Loy Innovators of the Years, Excellence in International Engagement (2017), and NSF grants.

Service:
Chair of Political Science Department (2017–2020), co-director of Global Race & Diversity Studies, and frequent advisor on Latin American policy.