Dr. Marie Mele Thomas obtained her PhD in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University.  Before joining academia, Professor Mele Thomas worked for the National Institute of Justice and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a victim advocate. Her research on victimization and intimate partner violence has been published in Journal of Family Violence, Journal of Crime and Justice, and Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management. Dr. Mele Thomas’ research interests include intimate partner violence, repeat victimization and victim advocacy.