Biography
EDUCATION
Degrees
Ph.D., Sociology (Concentration in Criminology), University of Colorado—Boulder, 1997.
Dissertation: Explaining Rates of Women’s Homicide: Testing Generalizability and Gender Equality Models
M.S., Counseling /MFT option (with distinction), California State University—Northridge 2010.
Comprehensive exam areas: Post-traumatic stress disorder, law and counseling, domestic violence and sexual victimization
M.A., Sociology, University of Oklahoma, 1991.
Thesis: Inmates, Residents, and Convicts: Social Types in a Women’s Prison
B.A., Sociology (with honors), University of Oklahoma, 1988
B.A., English (Concentration in Composition), University of Oklahoma, 1988.
Additional Training and Certifications
State of California 40-hour Domestic Violence Certification, 2008
RESEARCH AND TEACHING INTEREST AREAS
Domestic violence, Victimization and victim advocacy, Gender and crime/criminal justice, Violence, Corrections, Qualitative and quantitative research methods, Law and criminal justice, Counseling in criminal justice
POSITIONS HELD
2016 Acting Chair, Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, California State University—Northridge
2016 Professor, Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, California State University--Northridge
2009-2016 Coordinator, Criminology and Criminal Justice Option, Department of Sociology, California State University—Northridge
2008-2016 Professor, Department of Sociology, Calfornia State University—Northridge
2010 Marriage and Family Therapy Intern, Domestic Abuse Center, Northridge/Van Nuys CA
2008-2010 Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee, Domestic Abuse Center, Northridge/Van Nuys CA
2003-2008 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, California State University—Northridge
2000-2001 Adjunct Instructor, Department of Sociology, College of the Canyons
1999-2005 Coordinator, Graduate Program, Department of Sociology, California State University—Northridge
1997-2003 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, California State University—Northridge
1996-1997 Graduate Part-Time Instructor, Department of Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder
1994-1997 Adjunct Instructor of Sociology, Metropolitan State College of Denver
1993-1997 Graduate Research Assistant, Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, University of Colorado at Boulder
1991-1992 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder
1989-1991 Graduate Part-time Instructor, Department of Sociology, University of Oklahoma
1989 Graduate Research Assistant, University Honors Program, University of Oklahoma
1989 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociology, University of Oklahoma
1988 Research Intern, Oklahoma Department of Corrections
HONORS AND AWARDS
2014 Don Dorsey Award for Excellence in Mentoring, California State University--Northridge
2014 Polished Apple Teaching Award, California State University—Northridge
2007 Inducted into Pi Lambda Theta honorary society (Education)
2006 Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honorary society
2003 Finalist, Don Dorsey Award for Excellence in Mentoring, California State University—Northridge
1995 Inducted into Golden Key honorary society
1993 Second Place, American Society of Criminology Gene Carte Paper Competition
1991 Winner, Southwest Sociological Association’s Master’s Student Paper Competition
1990 Inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta honorary society (Sociology)
1988 Winner, Southwest Sociological Association’s Bachelor’s Student Paper Competition
GRANTS
Internal
2012 California State University—Northridge, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Summer Research Grant Program.
2007 California State University—Northridge, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Summer Research Grant Program
2006 California State University—Northridge, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Research Grant Program (AY 2006-2007)
1999 California State University—Northridge, Research and Sponsored Projects Faculty Competition Grant (AY 1999-2000)
1999 California State University—Northridge, Research and Sponsored Projects Probationary Faculty Support Award (Reassigned time for Spring 1999)
1998 California State University—Northridge, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Research Grant Program (AY 1998-1999)
1998 California State University—Northridge, Research and Sponsored Projects Faculty Competition Grant (AY 1998-1999)
PUBLICATIONS
Books: Encyclopedia and Included Publications
Jensen, Vickie (editor). 2012. Women Criminals: An Encyclopedia of People and Issues. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
Pieces written in the above encyclopedia:
Biographies:
"Casey Anthony" pp. 284-289
"Teresa Lewis" pp. 515-520
"Gladys Kelly" pp. 494-498
Chapters:
Jensen, Vickie and Kris Kouri. "Introduction: Women Criminals and the Crimes They Commit" pp. 3-24.
Jensen, Vickie, Lizette Barrientos, and Annie Neimand. "Women and Criminal Offending: Individual-Level Perspectives" pp. 53-80.
Jensen, Vickie, Yasmin Serrato, Nayla Huq, and Crystal Kelly. "Diversity and Women's Criminal Offending." pp. 121-138.
Jensen, Vickie and Venessa Garcia. "Victimization and Women's Offending." pp. 121-139.
Other Books
Jensen, Vickie. 2001. Why Women Kill: Gender Equality and Homicide. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Eriksen, Shelley and Vickie Jensen (equally contributing authors). 2009. "A Push or a Punch: Distinguishing the Severity of Sibling Violence." Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 24: 183-208.
Eriksen, Shelley and Vickie Jensen. 2006. “All in the Family: Family Environmental Factors in Sibling Violence.” Journal of Family Violence. 21: 497-507.
Cao, Liqun, Anthony Adams, and Vickie Jensen. 1997. “The Black Subculture of Violence: A Research Note.” Criminology 35 (2): 367-379.
Book Chapters
Jensen, Vickie and Jill Biondo. 2005 “Constructing Parenthood in Jail: The Effects of Gender Expectations and Control.” Book chapter for Ethnographies of Law and Social Control. (Stacy Burns, Editor.)
Cao, Liqun, Anthony Adams, and Vickie Jensen. 2000. “The Empirical Status of the Black Subculture of Violence Theory.” In Markowitz, Michael and Delores Jones-Brown (editors) The System in Black and White: Exploring the Connection between Race, Crime, and Justice. Westport, CT: Praeger.
Other Publications
Campbell, Lori and Vickie Jensen. Accepted and Forthcoming. “Women Who Kill” in The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Women and Crime.
Jensen, Vickie. 2010. "Teaching Tip: Using Experiential Learning to Understand Domestic Violence Victimization." The Criminologist. 35 (3): 12.
Jensen, Vickie. 2008. “Subculture of Violence Hypothesis” in Encyclopedia of Social Problems. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Ballard, James David and Vickie Jensen. 2007. Qualitative Research: Syllabi and Teaching Materials (fourth edition). Washington, DC: American Sociological Association.
Jensen, Vickie. 2004. “At Work in the Iron Cage: The Prison as Gendered Organization (book review).” Gender and Society. 18 (4): 536-537.
In Progress
Eriksen, Shelley, Lori Campbell, and Vickie Jensen. Gender-Based Violence and Prevention Programs (topic) in preparation for resubmission to Journal of Interpersonal Violence
PRESENTATIONS
Participant for “Moving Up to Full Professor” Roundtable presented at American Society of Criminology, November 2016.
Teaching Domestic Violence: The Academic, The Professional, and the Personal. (with Vivian Lee)” Paper presented for roundtable: “Curriculum Related Issues—Outside the University.” American Society of Criminology, November 2015
“Domestic Violence Community Service and Field Research: Marrying Practice and Academic Learning for Criminal Justice Students” Paper presented for roundtable: Bridging Work in the Community with Work in Academia. American Society of Criminology. November 2014.
"Pedagogy, Experience, and Transformation" Paper presented for roundtable: Teaching Sensitive Topics: Handling the Discussion of IPV, Stalking, and Rape in the College and University Setting. American Society of Criminology. November 2009.
"PTSD and Birthing Trauma: Invisibility and Motherhood Ideals." Pacific Sociological Association. April 2009
“Brothers and Bullies: Social Correlates of Sibling and Juvenile Violence (with Shelley Eriksen).” Pacific Sociological Association. April 2008.
“Preschoolers at Play: Language, Role-taking and Social Development.” Pacific Sociological Association. April 2005.
“It’s Only a Game…Or Is It? Moral Panic and Role Playing Games (with Jesse Fletcher).” Far West Popular Culture and American Culture Association. February 2004.
“Theorizing Men, Masculinities, and Homicide.” American Society of Criminology. November 2003.
“Theorizing Men’s Homicide.” Pacific Sociological Association. April 2002.
“Men, Masculinities, and Homicide Offending: A Theoretical and Empirical Examination.” Pacific Sociological Association. March 2001.
“Severe Sibling Abuse: Comparisons with Sibling Physical Conflict and Other Juvenile Violence (with Shelley Eriksen)” American Society of Criminology. November 2000.
“Incarcerated Men with Children: Identity and Roles of Fathers Behind Bars.” Pacific Sociological Association. March 2000.
“All in the Family? Family Environment Factors in Sibling Violence (with Shelley Eriksen”. Pacific Sociological Association. March 2000.
“Incarcerated Parents: Comparing Men’s and Women’s Responses to Parental Roles, Separation from Children, and Program Needs in Jail (with Jill DuDeck).” American Society of Criminology. November 1999.
“Sibling Abuse: Background Factors and Effects on Survivors.” Pacific Sociological Association. April 1999.
“This is My House: Traditional Gender Roles and Women’s Prison Adaptations.” Pacific Sociological Association. April 1999.
“Prevalence and Correlates of Sibling Abuse in a Pilot Study (with Angela Taylor, Jill DuDeck, and Michelle Scaife). American Society of Criminology. November 1998.
“Generalizability and Homicide Theory: A Comparative Analysis of Men’s and Women’s Homicide Offending Rates.” American Sociological Association. August 1998.
“Violence Between Siblings: Directions for Research.” Pacific Sociological Association. April 1998.
“Men, Women, and Homicide: Gender Equality and Homicide Offending Rates by Gender.” Pacific Sociological Association. April 1998.
“Gender Equality and Women’s Homicide Offending.” American Society of Criminology. November 1997.
“Social Disorganization Theory and Female Homicide: Generalizable or Gender-Biased?” American Society of Criminology. October 1993.
“Social Types as Constituents of Social Order: An Ethnomethodological Re-analysis of a Prison Social Types Analysis.” American Sociological Association. August 1993.
“Inmates, Residents, and Convicts: Social Types in a Women’s Prison Unit.” Southwest Sociological Association. March 1991.
“Tightrope Walking in a Prison for Women.” American Sociological Association. August 1990.
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Positions and Activities in Profession and Community
2015 External reviewer for candidate promotion for the Department of Sociology, Providence College
2014-present Production assistant and volunteer coordinator for California Dance Ensemble, Chatsworth, CA.
2013 External reviewer for candidate tenure for the Department of Sociology, Providence College
2011-present Faculty liaison for Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County’s Domestic Abuse Self Help Program and instructor of CSUN student field research class
2012 Faculty liaison for Glendale YWCA and instructor of CSUN student field research class
2011-2012 Faculty liaison for Haven Hills Battered Women’s Shelter and instructor of CSUN student field research class
2006 External reviewer for candidate tenure and promotion for the Department of Sociology, University of South Alabama.
2006 Judge for the Gene Carte Student Paper Competition, American Society of Criminology
2005 Topic organizer and panel chair for two sessions under “Gender and Crime: Trends and Issues.” Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences annual meeting.
2004 Judge for Student Paper Competition, Division on Women and Crime, American Society of Criminology.
2004-2005 Volunteer for Center for Child and Family Studies Laboratory School
2003-2004 Invited member of ad hoc committee to improve minority representation in violence research careers for National Consortium on Violence Research
2003 Judge for Student Paper Competition, Division on Women and Crime, American Society of Criminology.
2003 Panel organizer for “Gender and Criminal Justice” Pacific Sociological Association annual meeting
1999 Panel organizer for “Gender and Criminal Justice” Pacific Sociological Association annual meeting
1999-2002 Consultant. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Pitchess Expansion Project and Jail Nursery Program Development.
1998-2003Consultant. Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Services
Professional Reviewing
Reviewer for these academic journals: Criminology, Homicide Studies, Feminist Criminology
Reviewer for these publishers: University of California Press, Wadsworth/Cengage, Sage, Greenwood/Praeger, Prentice-Hall, Rowman and Littlefield, Lynne Rienner
Professional Memberships
American Society of Criminology
American Society of Criminology’s Division on Women and Crime
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
SELECTED UNIVERSITY SERVICE
Positions and Committees
2016-2017 College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Student Success Committee
2014-2016 Chair, BA in Criminology and Justice Studies Development Committee
2012-2016 Department of Sociology Personnel Committee (elected)
2014-2015 Faculty mentor to California Pre-doctoral Program Scholar, Jose Torres
2012-2013 Chair’s Advisory Committee (elected)
2012-2013 Faculty mentor to California Pre-doctoral Program Scholar, Eric Lara
2009-present Coordinator: Criminology and Criminal Justice Option, Department of Sociology, California State University—Northridge
2001-present Gender Comprehensive Exam Committee
1998-present Criminology Comprehensive Exam Committee
2000-2005 Methods Comprehensive Exam Committee
2000-2002 Director: Center for the Study of Crime and Criminal Justice, California State University—Northridge.
1999-2005 Coordinator: Graduate Program, Department of Sociology, California State University—Northridge
Student Thesis Committees
Thesis chair: Athanasia Medenas, Department of Sociology
Topic: Sexting and Relationships (qualitative, in-depth interview study)
Thesis chair: Preeta Saxena, Department of Sociology
Topic: Experiences of Women Who Have Received Breast Implants (qualitative, in-depth interview study)
Thesis chair: Jill DuDeck (now Biondo)
Topic: Experiences of Incarcerated Mothers in Jail (qualitative, in-depth interview study)
Thesis committee member: Lizette Barrientos, Department of Psychology (quantitative analysis)
Thesis committee member: Cheryl Etting, Department of Special Education (quantitative, applied research)
Thesis committee member: George Skiles, Department of Sociology (content analysis)
Thesis committee member: Jesse Fletcher, Department of Sociology (quantitative and qualitative content analysis)
Thesis committee member: Sandra Casillas, Department of Sociology (quantitative survey analysis)
Thesis committee member: Chauntelle Tibbals, Department of Sociology (qualitative in-depth interview analysis)
Thesis committee member: Mary Walker, Department of Sociology (qualitative case study analysis)
Graduate project committee member: Yvette Ibanen, Department of Educational Psychology and
Counseling (career counseling for incarcerated men program project)
Graduate project committee member: Nicole Goddard, Department of Educational Psychology and
Counseling (domestic violence program project)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Most Frequently Taught Courses
SOC 418/CJS 418: Women/Gender and Crime 1999-2014
SOC 485A/428; CJS 446: Domestic Violence (seminar) Fall 2009; Fall 2010; Fall 2012; Spring 2013; Spring 2014
SOC 485B/415/CJS 438: Gender and the Criminal Justice System Spring 2009; Fall 2013
SOC 485B/CJS 454: Criminal Justice Systems Fall 2015
SOC 485A/496CA/489; CJS 480: Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice Spring 2011-present (every semester) Note: students do field research at a domestic abuse self-help site
Additional Courses Previously Taught
Undergraduate
SOC 2004: Topics in Crime: Sociology of Prison Life (at University of Colorado)
SOC 324: Sociology of Sex and Gender
SOC 304: Deviance
SOC 355: Criminology
SOC 474: Corrections
SOC 485A: Selected Topics in Criminology--Violence
SOC 499C: Independent Study (Topic: Gender, PTSD, and the military)
SOC 499C: Independent Study (Topic: Gender and sexual assault)
SOC 499C: Independent Study (Topic: Researching crime intervention and treatment programs)
Graduate
SOC 555: Graduate Seminar in Criminology
SOC 585: Selected Topics: Domestic Violence
SOC 585:Selected Topics: Graduate Pro-Seminar
SOC 690: Social Research/Quantitative Methods
SOC 691: Advanced Research Techniques: Qualitative Methods
SOC 699: Independent Study (Topic: Qualitative and Quantitative methods)
SOC 699: Independent Study (Topic: Masculinities and crime)