Monica Ciobanu

Dr. Monica Ciobanu is a Professor of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York Plattsburgh, where she has been a faculty member since fall 2005. She is affiliated with the School of Arts & Sciences and serves in the Criminal Justice Department. Dr. Ciobanu has established herself as a leading scholar in post-communist studies with significant contributions to understanding memory, justice, and democratization processes in Eastern Europe.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Sociology from the Graduate Faculty for Political and Social Science at the New School for Social Research (2005)
• M.A. in Gender Studies from the Graduate Faculty for Political and Social Science at the New School for Social Research (1998)
• B.A. in Sociology from the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Bucharest, Romania (1993)

Dr. Ciobanu's research spans two interconnected areas: democratization in East and Central Europe, and memory and justice in post-communist countries. Her work bridges criminology, sociology, and historical studies with particular focus on Romania's communist past and post-communist transition. She has conducted extensive archival research in Romania's National Council for Securitate Archives and explores themes of repression, resistance, collaboration, and transitional justice. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates historical analysis with contemporary criminological perspectives, examining how past political systems continue to shape present-day justice mechanisms and social memory.

Dr. Ciobanu's scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent trajectory of increasing impact, with publications spanning from 2009 to the present. Her most recent work shows a deepening focus on memory studies and post-memory phenomena in Romania, culminating in her co-edited volume 'Between the Memory and Post-Memory of Communism in Romania: Fluid Memories' (2025). Her research increasingly examines how digital contexts shape memory practices and how marginalized voices are incorporated into historical narratives.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• 2014-2015 SUNY Chancellors' Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities
• Charles E. Scheidt Faculty Fellow in Atrocity Prevention at the State University of Binghamton Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (2021-2022 academic year)

Dr. Ciobanu has secured research funding including a Title VIII grant from the U.S. Department of State for archival research in Bucharest. She has held prestigious fellowships at the Imre Kertesz Kolleg Institute in Jena, Germany (2017) and the University of Glasgow (2009). She served as chair of the Criminal Justice Department from 2014-2016 and is regularly invited to review manuscripts and grant proposals in East European studies. Her work in the Honors Program demonstrates her commitment to undergraduate education while maintaining an active research agenda.

Dr. Ciobanu was featured among three distinguished scholars at SUNY Plattsburgh's Celebration of Scholarship in fall 2013, highlighting her significant contributions to the university community.