New Associate Director of Crime & Security Data Analytics Lab Joins Terrorism Research Center

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Steven Windisch

The Department of Sociology and Criminology's Terrorism Research Center welcomes Steven Windisch as an assistant professor and associate director of the Crime and Security Data Analytics Lab, which is housed in the Terrorism Research Center.

Windisch earned his Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice in 2019 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He previously served as an assistant professor at Temple University, where he was associated with the Cybersecurity in Application, Research and Education Lab.

Windisch's current research uses in-depth interviews to examine threats of violence made against election officials, and is supported by National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence. More generally, Windisch focuses on ways that trauma, identity formation and experiences of interpersonal violence intersect with political extremism.

"Dr. Windisch's work directly contributes to the ongoing research and educational programs of the TRC," said Jeff Gruenewald, the center's director. "He is a leading expert on topics like online extremism and pathways out of extremist movements, and he brings with him projects that are of significant interest to our students. We are very fortunate to have him join our team."

As associate director for Crime and Security Data Analytics Lab, Windisch plans to further develop collaborative research partnerships across the U of A campus, while contributing to the Terrorism Research Center's mission of using social science and data analytics to promote safer communities, inform evidence-based policies and train the next generation of researchers, intelligence analysts and law enforcement professionals.