Aubri Mcdonald
Assistant Professor
Criminal Justice Department
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, 2017
- EMAIL:
- mcdonala@uwp.edu
Dr McDonald is an Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at UW Parkside. She has a PhD in Criminology from the University of Illinois in Chicago and a Master’s Degree in Media Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr McDonald has a B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Journalism from the University of Kansas.
Her research involves community-based learning and framing in media, social movements, and criminal trials.
Areas of Expertise
- Framing Theory
- Gangs
- Crime & Media
- Criminal Trial Analysis
- Social Movements
Teaching Interests
Community-Based Learning - CRMJ/SOCA 365 Race, Crime, Law; implications of gendered and racialized cultural frames for criminal justice policy and practice; gang affiliation and criminal justice processing
Research Interests
Community-Based Research in Criminal Justice Education; Framing in Criminal Trials and Social Movements; Female Gang Involvement
Consulting Interests
Trauma-Informed practices and training in juvenile detention; Title IX investigations
- (2025) Collaborative Community-Based Research: A Criminal Justice Course Partnership with A Juvenile Detention Center. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 1-20 pp.
- Collaborative Community-Based Research: A Criminal Justice Course Partnership with a Juvenile Detention Center. Journal of Criminal Justice Education
- Embracing AI for Experiential Learning in a Women, Crime, and Criminal Justice Course. College Teaching
- Frames Over Facts: Framing in the Murder Trial of a Female Gang Member. Women and Criminal Justice
- (2019) Framing #MeToo: Assessing the Power and Unintended Consequences of a Social Media Movement to Address Sexual Assault. Springer, 79-107 pp. PDF
- (2019) Sexual Assault and Female Gang Involvement: A Look at Risk Amplification and Prevention. Springer, 761-779 pp.
Teaching Awards
-
(2025)
Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award — Center for Excellence in Inclusive Teaching & Learning
Student nominated based on their instructor's ability to support, inspire, and challenge students; promote critical thinking, make course material accessible, and impact students academically or professionally. - (2022) Very Impactful Professor — Parkside Athletic Department; nominated by a member of the girls' volleyball team
- (2022) Very Impactful Professor — Parkside Athletic Department; nominated by a member of the mens' soccer team
- (2020) Very Impactful Professor — Parkside Athletic Department; nominated by a member of the wrestling team
Research/Creative Awards
- (2025) Community Engaged Learning and Research Award — Alan E. Guskin Center for Community and Business Engagement
Service Awards
- (2025) Outstanding Community Partnership Award — Alan E. Guskin Center for Community and Business Engagement
Departmental Service
- Faculty Advisor — Criminal Justice Association (CJA)
College Service
- (2024) Committee Member — The Center for Ethnic Studies Steering Committee
University Service
- (2026) University Senate Service — Faculty Senator
- (2024) Committee Member — Committee on Academic Planning
- (2023) Committee Member — Awards and Ceremonies Committee
CRMJ 101 - Intro to Criminal Justice
CRMJ 350 - Street Gangs and Crime
CRMJ 365 - Race, Crime, Law (DV)
CRMJ 366 - Women/Crime/Criminal Justice
CRMJ 371 - The Criminal Mind
CRMJ 372 - Violence
CRMJ 385 - Media/Crime/Criminal Justice
CRMJ 499 - Independent Study:
SOCA 101 - Introduction to Sociology
SOCA 365 - Race, Crime, Law (DV)
WGSS 366 - Women/Crime/Criminal Justice