Expertise

- Mixed Methods Research
- School Safety
- K-12 Threat Assessment
- Violent Crime

EDUCATION

- B.A., Political Science, North Carolina State University

- M.S., Criminal Justice, Virginia Commonwealth University

- Ph.D., Public Policy, Criminal Justice Concentration, Virginia Commonwealth University. Dissertation: Threat Assessment Team Activity and Outcomes in K-12 Public Schools: Integrating Methods to Better Understand School Safety

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Jess C. Smith currently serves as Project Director for the Evaluation of the Virginia Violent Crime Initiative, also known as Ceasefire Virginia, at the Wilder School's Center for Public Policy. Jess is no stranger to VCU, as she taught as an adjunct professor in the Social Work and Criminal Justice programs for several years and completed her PhD and Master's degrees here at the Wilder school. Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Smith served the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, first as the Public Safety Initiatives Coordinator at the Attorney General’s Office until 2012, and most recently as the School, Campus, and Public Safety Resource Specialist at the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety within the Department of Criminal Justice Services until 2017.