Rachel Ponder

Rachel Ponder is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Social Sciences at Maryville College, where she teaches in the Criminal Justice program. Her academic work bridges criminology, human rights, and justice reform, with a strong focus on systemic issues within the American criminal justice system.

Her research interests include transitional justice, political and state violence, justice studies, and law and policy. These themes are deeply informed by her dissertation, "Justice Involvement during COVID-19 and the Possibility of Transitional Justice", which examines how the pandemic exposed and exacerbated systemic failures related to mass incarceration and human rights violations.

Dr. Ponder earned her B.A. from the University of South Florida, her M.A. in Criminal Justice from Boston University, and her Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Tennessee, where she also obtained a certification in Disasters, Displacement, and Human Rights. She brings practical experience from a brief career in law enforcement into her academic perspective.

Her teaching portfolio includes courses such as Social Problems & Social Justice, Introduction to Sociology, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Investigative Forensics, and Criminal Law & Procedure, reflecting a broad and applied approach to justice education.

While no scientific awards or publications are listed in the current materials, her scholarly trajectory emphasizes reform-oriented research and pedagogy centered on equity, human rights, and policy critique.

Dr. Ponder advises undergraduate students and contributes to curriculum development within the Division of Social Sciences. Though no grants or formal advising relationships are detailed, her research focus suggests engagement with interdisciplinary and policy-relevant projects.

She is affiliated with Maryville College’s academic community and continues to develop research that connects disaster response, public health crises, and justice transformation.