Department of Sociology and Criminology Welcomes New Faculty

University of Arkansas, Department of Sociology

Kayla Allison

The Department of Sociology and Criminology welcomes the addition of Kayla Allison, an assistant professor of sociology and criminology, to its faculty this fall. Allison received her Ph.D. in sociology and criminal justice from Indiana University in August 2020.

As a trained sociologist and criminologist, her research agenda bridges both disciplines and touches on a number of sub-areas including social networks, the intersection of gender, race, class, and crime, child maltreatment, and bias crime. Specifically, her current research agenda focuses on three lines of inquiry:

• The influence of informal and formal social networks on family reunification processes and outcomes in cases of child abuse and neglect

• The influence of race, class, gender, and sexuality on bias crime offending, and

• The use of victim-blaming language in news stories of sexual assault on college campuses. Her work has been published in well-respected journals, such as Justice Quarterly, Social Science Research, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Sociological Quarterly, and Crime and Delinquency. 

Allison teaches courses in Social Theory, Social Psychology, and Intro to Criminology and Criminal Justice. She is a member of the American Sociological Association, American Society of Criminology, Sociologists for Women in Society, and Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

"We could not be more delighted to welcome Dr. Allison to the department and the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. A versatile scholar of both criminology and sociology, Dr. Allison's expertise in bias crime, inequalities and child maltreatment builds on our strengths in criminology and hate crime, while also fitting with our goals of enhancing the areas of health and well-being," said Shauna Morimoto, department chair. "Her contributions complement faculty expertise in community and crime, terrorism and health and well-being, particularly as related to race, class, gender and sexuality inequalities. Dr. Allison's scholarship adds to the U of A's signature areas of Enriching Human Health and Community Vibrancy and Advancing the Data Revolution"

About the Department: The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers three degree programs and four student organizations; affiliation with three research units: the Center for Social Research. the Community and Family Institute, and the Terrorism Research Center; and research emphases in community, crime, health and well-being, and social data analytics.