College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

The University of Dayton appointed Martha Hurley as director of the criminal justice studies program. Hurley, who begins in August, currently serves as department head and professor in the department of sociology and criminal justice at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Hurley, an accomplished scholar of comparative corrections and criminal justice policy, previously held administrative and faculty positions at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

She also will carry the title of professor in the University of Dayton department of sociology, anthropology and social work, which houses the criminal justice studies program.

Hurley has good administrative experience as a department chair at two institutions, and has worked to revise and update undergraduate curricula, said Patrick Donnelly, professor of sociology, who chaired the search committee.

“Dr. Hurley values experiential education and has developed a number of interesting and rewarding practicum and internship experiences for students,” Donnelly said. “She is a productive scholar who has published numerous books and articles on different aspects of the correctional system.”

Hurley’s scholarship focuses on the application of evidence-based approaches to help resolve social problems and criminal justice policy analysis.

Currently, she is completing a second edition of Aging in Prison: The Integration of Research and Practice, which calls for the implementation of ethics standards for caring for aging and elderly prisoners in the U.S.

In addition, she is involved with an international substance use disorder project managed by the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific. The project is part of a global initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, to certify and professionalize addiction treatment workers in Asia and the Pacific.

“In an effort to assist with this initiative, I have helped with the writing of an evidence-based international substance use disorder training curriculum, which will be made available for free to nations around the world,” Hurley said.

During the past year, she has trained international social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors on this curriculum.

Hurley said such scholarly endeavors could enhance current expertise within the University of Dayton department of sociology, anthropology and social work.

“Dr. Hurley will bring significant and valuable administrative experience and a collaborative leadership style to the criminal justice studies program,” said Jason Pierce, College of Arts and Sciences dean. “She is eager to work with faculty and staff on curricular and co-curricular innovations, and to expand global and experiential learning opportunities for CJS students in exciting ways. Moreover, she resonates deeply with the mission of UD and the aspirations of the CJS program.”

Hurley holds a doctorate degree in criminal justice and a master’s in sociology, both from the University of Cincinnati. She also holds a bachelor’s in sociology from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.

The University of Dayton criminal justice studies program is designed to provide a critical understanding of the structure and operation of the criminal justice system, and prepare students to work for justice, serve their communities and be transformative leaders. The program draws on faculty from the departments of sociology, anthropology and social work, political science and psychology. Currently, it has 110 students. The program hosts student chapters of Omega Psi Delta and Alpha Phi Sigma. Graduates pursue a variety of paths, including post-graduate work and careers in the military, law, policing, corrections, education and nonprofit organizations.

The search committee also included Paul Becker, Melissa Berry, Miranda Hallett, Jefferson Ingram and Jamie Longazel.

- Dave Larsen, communication coordinator, College of Arts and Science