Tony Gaskew

Dr. Tony Gaskew is a Professor of Criminal Justice and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (UPB), where he has served since 2006. He holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis from Nova Southeastern University and is a faculty affiliate at the Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) in the School of Social Work. His research focuses on counterinsurgency (COIN), Black Male Studies, and Killology, with a strong emphasis on police abolition, African American resistance, and prison education reform.

• Ph.D. Conflict Analysis, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nova Southeastern University
• M.S. Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Institute, Nova Southeastern University
• B.L.S. Behavioral Science, Barry University

Dr. Gaskew’s academic work explores intersections of systemic oppression, white supremacy, and transformative justice. His ethnographic research spans Africa, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories, with a notable focus on post-9/11 policing of Muslim American communities. He created the FBI-COINTELPRO-Pittsburgh Collection, a digital archive documenting FBI counterintelligence operations targeting the 1960s Black Power Movement, and has authored over 50 publications, including his 2020 book Stop Trying to Fix Policing.

His 2025 awards include The Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award and The Dr. Larry E. Davis Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship Award, reflecting his commitment to social justice and community partnerships. He founded the nationally recognized UPB Prison Education Program, pioneering post-secondary initiatives at federal and state correctional facilities.

• Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award (2025)
• Dr. Larry E. Davis Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship Award (2025)

Dr. Gaskew’s 15 most recent publications highlight his expertise in critical race theory, counterinsurgency, and prison reform. His work spans from 2023 analyses of Black Liberation Army strategies to foundational 2007 studies on post-9/11 policing. Common themes include systemic racism, social justice, and the psychological impacts of policing and incarceration.

As a Fulbright Hays Scholar and military combat veteran, Dr. Gaskew brings interdisciplinary rigor to his roles. He teaches courses on Killology, examining the lived experience of deadly force in policing and military contexts, and advocates for transformative educational practices in correctional settings.