Dr. Melissa Petkovsek

Associate Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology

Dr. Petkovsek teaches Criminology, Graduate Methods of CJ Research, Graduate Statistics for CJ, and special topics courses:  Violent Offending, Forensic Psychology of Eyewitness Identification, and Jury Behavior

• Research interests include biosocial criminology, in which she examines antisocial and violent behavior through the intersection of genetics and environmental factors
• She frequently mentors student research projects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels  
• Dr. Petkovsek holds degrees from:

Sam Houston State University (2014) Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Tiffin University (2010) M.S. in Criminal Justice & Forensic Psychology

The College of Wooster (2008) B.A. in Psychology

Publications include:

Steinmetz, K.F. & Petkovsek, M.A. (2022). Perilous policing: An analysis of the Resident Evil series. Critical Criminology, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-022-09640-1

Meldrum, R.C., Petkovsek, M.A., Boutwell, B.B., & Young, J.T. (2017). Reassessing the Relationship between General Intelligence and Self-control in Childhood. Intelligence, 60, 1-9.

Schaefer, B.P. & Petkovsek, M.A. (2017). Adolescent Use of Opioids and Stimulants: Testing the Influence of Peers, Self-Control, and Sports Participation. Criminal Justice Studies, 30 (4), 365-380.

 Petkovsek, MA. & Boutwell, B.B. (2014). Childhood Intelligence and the Emergence of Self-control. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41(10), 1232-1249.

Petkovsek, M.A., Boutwell, B.B., Beaver, K.M., & Barnes, J.C. (2014). Prenatal Smoking and Genetic Risk: Examining the Childhood Origins of Life-Course Persistent Offending. Social Science and Medicine, 111, 17-24.