Catherine Jenks, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Criminology
Department of Civic Engagement and Public Service University College

678-839-3775
cjenks@westgakmq7WkDnFNiLfvSuA39S.edu

Pafford Social Science Building - Room 226
Office Hours
Spring 2024 hours:
M W: 8:30-9:25, 10:50-12
T R: 8:30-9:25, 10:50-11:30, 12:00-12:25, 1:45-3:00
All other times by appointment

Download curriculum vitae for Catherine Jenks, Ph.D. in PDF
Catherine Jenks, Ph.D.

Dr. Cathi Jenks received her Ph.D. in Criminology from The Florida State University in 2006 and currently holds the rank of Associate Professor of Criminology at UWG. Dr. Jenks most recently served for eight years (2013-2021) first as the Interim Director of Institutional Research and Planning and subsequently as the Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment, as well as the SACSCOC institutional accreditation liaison. Prior to this role, she co-founded and served as the Director of the Survey Research Center (now part of the UWG Center for Research) from 2007-2013. She is a Quality Matters certified instructor, and her teaching and research interests include law and society, therapeutic jurisprudence, civility, perceptions of justice, survey research, and criminology and criminal justice education. Dr. Jenks served as co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation funded research project designed to identify specific issues in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women faculty in STEM and STEM related disciplines. Prior to joining the faculty at UWG, she worked as a survey coordinator in the Survey Research Group at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California. She was the recipient of the University of West Georgia's College of Arts and Sciences' Excellence in Teaching Award in 2009.

  • B.A., Government, University of Texas at Austin, 1994
  • M.A., Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Texas at Arlington, 1997
  • Ph.D., Criminology, Florida State University, 2006

Spring 2024 Sections

Fall 2023 Sections

Summer 2023 Sections

Spring 2023 Sections

Fall 2022 Sections

Summer 2022 Sections

Spring 2022 Sections

Matthews, T., L. M. Johnson, and C. A. Jenks. (2015). Does religious involvement generate or inhibit fear of crime? (Reprint) In K.R. Kerley (Ed.) Current Studies in the Sociology of Religion. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI.

Jenks, Catherine A. and John Randolph Fuller. 2013. "Civility in prisons: A radical proposal." In D. Polizzi, M. Braswell, & M. Draper (Eds.) Transforming Corrections (2nd Ed.). Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press. [View Publication External Resource]

Jenks, Catherine A. 2013. "Interview of Judge Winston P. Bethel, Retired, Chief Magistrate Judge." In D. K. Das and C. Roberson (Eds.) Trends in the Judiciary: Interviews with Judges Across the Globe. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. [View Publication External Resource]

Matthews, Todd, L. Michael Johnson, and Catherine A. Jenks. 2011. Does religious involvement generate or inhibit fear of crime? Religions 2(4), 485-503. [View Publication External Resource]

Jenks, David, J. Scott Carter and Catherine A. Jenks. 2007. Command staff leadership training and job commitment in the LAPD. Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice 4(2),106-119. [View Publication External Resource]

Jenks, David, J. Scott Carter, Catherine A. Jenks, and Mark Correia. 2006. An evaluation of the Los Angeles Police Department's West Point Leadership Program. Professional Issues in Criminal Justice 1(2), 55-70. [View Publication External Resource]

Jenks, David and Catherine A. Jenks. 2004. Cesar Chavez, where are you now? The marginalization and victimization of Hispanic immigrants in Southern California. In C.T.M. Coston, (Ed.) Victimizing Vulnerable Groups. New York: Praeger. [View Publication External Resource]

Grant Funded Research

Recipient of the following research grants:

  1. 2013 National Science Foundation -- ADVANCE IT- Catalyst Multi-year study assessing the factors that relate to the lack of women faculty in leadership and senior positions in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, social research disciplines at the University of West Georgia. Principal Investigators: Arlene Horne, Jane McCandless, Diane Hoff, Catherine Jenks, Todd Matthews. Proposal 1209163. Funded: $95,926 in year one and $79,939 in year two.;
  2. 2009-2013 University of West Georgia Office of Institutional Advancement UWG Branding Project. Multi-year study of the awareness of the University of West Georgia. Internally funded: $35,000 in year one, $25,000 in year two, and $35,000 in year three.;
  3. 2007 University of West Georgia College of Arts and Sciences -- End of Year Funds Competitive Grant. Co-Authored with N. Jane McCandless. Awarded $15,000 to purchase software and related peripherals for computer assisted telephone interviewing used to establish the Survey Research Center at UWG; and,
  4. 2007 National Institute on Drug Abuse -- Substance Abuse, Criminal Justice and HIV in African Americans Concept Paper Competition. “Offender Race and Equitable Treatment in the Drug Treatment Court Waiver Process: An Evaluation of Georgia Drug Treatment Courts.” Sole authored, peer reviewed concept paper accepted. Awarded fully funded trip to Washington D.C. to present paper to NIDA officials and recent grant recipients. Estimated value: $2,000.