Gift Supports Meredith’s Growing Criminology Program

A recent $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor will support Meredith College’s criminology program. The gift will fund a visiting professorship in criminology, teaching courses in criminology and sociology. The addition of this faculty position will allow Meredith to strengthen its offerings in justice areas of criminology.

“With the support of this new gift, the College will be able to build upon our existing faculty expertise in sociology and in the law enforcement side of criminology,” said Garry Walton, dean of Meredith’s School of the Arts and Humanities. “We now have the opportunity to add strength in the related justice areas of criminology – including corrections, law, domestic violence, juvenile justice, and victim assistance.”

Kris Macomber, who previously served as an adjunct instructor in Meredith’s program, has been named to the new visiting professor position. Macomber has experience in both academic and applied settings, including more than ten years of undergraduate teaching experience. Prior to her position at Meredith, she was the evaluation and research specialist for the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Macomber earned her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University with specializations in violence and victimization, inequality, community-based research, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

In 2011, in keeping with its history of supporting women in non-traditional fields, Meredith expanded its existing criminology minor and became one of the few women’s colleges to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology. Students in the program gain hands-on, professional experience through required internships with law enforcement, community, or government agencies. Recent internship placements include the N.C. Department of Corrections, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Raleigh Police Department, and the Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification. The program regularly hosts events such as CSI Week, during which students can explore criminology career options.

This gift is part of Meredith’s Beyond Strong campaign, which is building momentum toward the College’s 125th anniversary in 2016.

Melyssa Allen

News Director
316 Johnson Hall
(919) 760-8087
Fax: (919) 760-8330

allenme@meredith.edu