Jennifer Steele
Jennifer L. Steele, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Ohio University’s Lancaster Campus. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Akron, with concentrations in criminology and deviant behavior, and holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from Ohio University and Ohio Northern University. Her scholarly work examines substance use, violence, policing, and inequality, with particular attention to rural communities, adolescents, and underserved populations.
Dr. Steele is an active and widely published researcher, with articles appearing in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Criminal Justice, Police Quarterly, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, and Substance Use & Misuse. Her research has been supported by multiple Ohio University Regional Higher Education grants and has received national recognition through awards, nominations, and invited presentations at major sociology and criminology conferences.
A dedicated and innovative educator, Dr. Steele teaches a wide range of courses including sociology, criminology, criminal justice, deviant behavior, and drugs, crime, and society. She is known for her student-centered, active-learning approach and has been recognized with several teaching awards, including the Grasselli Faculty Teaching Award and the Regional Campus Outstanding Tenure Track Professor Award. She also mentors students through honors tutorials, advising, and co-curricular engagement.
In addition to her teaching and research, Dr. Steele provides extensive service at the department, campus, and university levels. She has held leadership roles in faculty governance, promotion and tenure committees, curriculum development, and student engagement initiatives, and currently serves as a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for Law, Justice and Culture. Her work reflects a strong commitment to regional campus students, academic excellence, and community-engaged higher education.