LAURA J. HICKMAN, PH.D., is a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Portland State University. Dr. Hickman's work focuses on evaluating programs and criminal justice policy responses to crime and victimization. She has led and co-led multi-million dollar, multi-site experimental evaluations, employing original data collection, rigorous methodology, and advanced statistical techniques. Her research and publications have covered a range of policy-oriented topics, including domestic violence, law enforcement policy and practice, correctional programming supervision, federal capital punishment, immigration-related criminal law enforcement, and children’s exposure to violence.
Hickman earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Oregon and her Master’s degree in Administration of Justice from Portland State University. She obtained her Ph.D. in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland. Before joining PSU, Hickman worked as a Behavioral Scientist at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California.
Since coming to PSU, Hickman has served in multiple service and leadership roles within the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She has held positions such as Interim Department Chair, Associate Director of the Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute, and Director of Criminology and Criminal Justice Online (CCJO), PSU’s flagship fully online undergraduate program, a role she has held since 2011.
In Fall 2019, Hickman assumed the role of Interim Associate Dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs. She continues to serve the college faculty, staff, and students in this capacity, in addition to her duties as CCJO Director. In both roles, she has participated in numerous committees, working groups, and activities aimed at improving overall efficiency and effectiveness, enhancing the quality of academic programs, supporting faculty career development, and facilitating student success in achieving their academic and career goals.