William Moreto

William Moreto is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida's College of Community Innovation and Education. His research focuses on wildlife crime dynamics, conservation law enforcement, and the experiences of rangers globally. He holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University - Newark and a B.A. in Criminology from Simon Fraser University.

Dr. Moreto’s work examines intersections between wildlife crime and corruption, as well as strategies to improve ranger well-being and community engagement in conservation efforts. His projects span multiple regions, including Uganda, Asia-Pacific tiger landscapes, and Latin America. Key themes include ranger working conditions, militarization of conservation, and gender equity in wildlife protection roles.

His publications analyze complex crime networks, spatial crime patterns, and policy interventions. Recent work highlights the planetary health implications of ranger labor conditions and the symbiotic links between wildlife trafficking and organized crime. His research bridges criminological theory with practical conservation science, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.

Dr. Moreto collaborates with international organizations to address ranger safety, community-park relations, and anti-poaching strategies. He has advised on wildlife crime prevention frameworks and contributed to global assessments of protected area management challenges.