COCJ Students and Faculty Recognized by International Organization

Three graduate students and three professors from the Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice (SHSU-COCJ) have been awarded by the American Society of Criminology (ASC) for their research. The recipients were presented with their awards during the 2025 Annual Meeting, held November 12-15 in Washington, D.C.

Cristal Hernandez-Avalos

Cristal Hernandez-Avalos was awarded the Claire M. Renzetti Domestic Travel Grant from the ASC Division of Feminist Criminology. The grant is a $1,000 travel reimbursement awarded to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, or non-tenure-track faculty members who identify with racial and ethnic groups that make up a small proportion of the field.

“When I received the news, I was shocked,” Hernandez-Avalos said. “I immediately shared the good news with my faculty mentors.”

Jangwon Kim

Jangwon Kim was awarded the Student Survey Award from the ASC Division of Public Opinion and Policy. The award includes a $1,500 prize to support data collection for his research proposal, “The Generalizability of the Process-Based Model in the Era of AI-Driven Policing.”

“I was very excited and shared the news with my family,” Kim said. “I brought my family to the conference this time, which offered a refreshing time for us.” 

Kevin Hagans Jr.

Kevin Hagans Jr. was awarded the Student Travel Award from the ASC Division of Policing. The award assists with travel costs for undergraduate or graduate students presenting at the ASC Annual Meeting.

 “When I received news that I received the award, I was very excited,” Hagans Jr. said. “It was nice to know that they believe I was the best choice for this award.”

Kathleen Ratajczak

Kathleen Ratajczak received the Faculty Teacher of the Year Award from the ASC Division of Victimology. Honorees of this award are nominated for their distinction in teaching victimology or victimology-related courses during the past two academic years.

“I was really honored,” Ratajczak said, “Teaching is my favorite part of my job. I put a lot of effort into making sure my classes are engaging, but also comfortable for students."

Peter Lehmann

Peter Lehmann was awarded the Distinguished New Scholar Award from the ASC Division on Corrections and Sentencing. This award honors outstanding early-career contributions in corrections and sentencing research. Lehmann was nominated by his colleague, Danielle Rudes, a professor in the SHSU Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

“I am deeply grateful to the colleagues and mentors who have supported me throughout my career thus far,” Lehmann said. “Their guidance and encouragement have shaped my work and scholarly identity in countless ways. I am humbled to receive this recognition, and I am thankful for the support and generosity from SHSU and my collaborators.”

For more information about the American Society of Criminology, its divisions and awards, click here to visit their website.

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This article was originally published on Sam Houston State University's website.