Bria Cross, M.S.

Summary

Bria D. Cross, M.S. is a multifaceted researcher and policy consultant whose career spans academia, law, and community service. Her academic odyssey includes pursuits in Political Science, Criminology & Criminal Justice, and Business Management, exemplifying her commitment to multifaceted learning. Currently serving as a Research Assistant/Policy Consultant at the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), Bria collaborates with Dr. Nicholas Powell, the Strategic Planning and Research Director, focusing on reentry initiatives and the prison pipeline.

Her tenure at the DCS revolves around extensive research endeavors, from the Unsupervised Status Research Project to collaborative studies with the Georgia State Department of Criminal Justice. Bria's efforts significantly contribute to implementing person-centered supervision best practices and evaluating Georgia's Probation Reform, reflecting her dedication to reshaping community supervision policies for positive societal reintegration.

Bria's academic pursuits align seamlessly with her professional endeavors, from mentoring pre-law students at Clark Atlanta University to instructing courses at Old Dominion University, covering topics ranging from Cybercrime to Criminal Justice Systems. Her research interests center on Methodology in Criminological/Political Theory and Criminal Justice Policy, echoing DCS's core values of accountability, integrity, and teamwork.

As a published author with a robust record of presentations at prestigious conferences such as the National Conference of Black Political Scientists and the American Society of Criminology, Bria's contributions to scholarly discourse have been noteworthy. Her extensive engagement in community service, mentorship programs, and advocacy efforts for educational empowerment among youth echo her commitment to societal progress beyond academic realms.

Bria's accolades include Summa Cum Laude honors, memberships in esteemed honor societies, and leadership roles in professional affiliations such as the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the American Society of Criminology. Her commitment to continuous growth and development is reflected in her proactive engagement in trainings focusing on diversity, inclusion, and motivational interviewing, fostering an inclusive and informed approach in her professional and community interactions.

Her journey epitomizes the fusion of academic excellence, practical engagement, and a fervent commitment to community welfare, mirroring the essence of 'Where public safety meets progress' at the heart of the Georgia Department of Community Supervision's ethos.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

• Expected 2025 - Ph.D., Clark Atlanta University, Political Science

• 2022 - Ph.D., Old Dominion University, Criminology & Criminal Justice (Degree not conferred)

• 2018 - M.S., North Carolina Central University, Criminal Justice (Summa Cum Laude: 4.0)

• 2017 - Juris Doctorate, North Carolina Central University, School of Law (Degree not conferred)

• 2016 - B.S., Hampton University, Business Management (Cum Laude)

Professional experience

• Georgia Department of Community Supervision:

  • Research Assistant/Policy Consultant, Atlanta, GA, May 2023 - present

• Fulton County Sheriff’s Department:

  • Jail Community Engagement and Court Services - Patrick Labat, Atlanta, GA, May 2023 - present

• Clark Atlanta University:

  • Pre-Law Advisor, Department of Political Science, Atlanta, GA, August 2022 - present

• North Carolina Education Corps:

  • Staff/Tutor, Winston Salem, NC, April - June 2021

• Old Dominion University:

  • Instructor, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, 2019 - 2021

  • Graduate Research Assistant to Vice Provost, Dr. Brian Payne, Office of Academic Affairs, 2019 - 2021

  • Program Coordinator, Degree Works, Diversity Studies Certificate Program, 2019 - 2021

• Western District of North Carolina U.S Probation and Pretrial Office:

  • Graduate Intern, Charlotte, NC, 2017 - 2019

• Wendall Scott Foundation Program:

  • Staff Member, Danville, VA, June 2019

• North Carolina Central University:

  • Research Assistant and Project Coordinator, Department of Political Science, January - May 2018

• AmeriCorps, Alternatives, Inc.:

  • Member, Hampton, VA, 2015 - 2016

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• "An exploratory look at faculty perceptions of an active shooter training phenomenological approach" - International Journal of Contemporary Sociology

• "Faculty and Advisor Advice for Cybersecurity Students: Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinarity, Experience, Lifelong Learning, Technical Skills, and Hard Work" - Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

• "Student perceptions about the Production of Electronic Portfolios: Technology, Process, and Showcase Insights" - College Student Journal, Education, or Reading Improvement

• "To eP or not to eP: Electronic Portfolio usage and their role in framing digital identities among criminal justice, Cybersecurity, and Leadership Majors" - Journal of Criminal Justice Education

In Progress

• "Transfer Pathways: Labeling and Community Supervision to Civic Reintegration"

• "The impact of the use of social media on college students’ political awareness, civic engagement, and political participation"

Grants

• Funded by National Science Foundation for Cyber Security Pathways (HRCYBER)

Notable presentations and invited talks

• National Conference of Black Political Scientist (NCOBPS) on "Felony Disenfranchisement and the Black Vote"

• American Society of Criminology (ASC) on "Ep or Not to Ep: Electronic Portfolio Usage and Their Role in Framing Digital Identities Among criminal justice, cybersecurity, and leadership majors"

• Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA) on "Faculty and Advisor Advice for Cybersecurity Students"

• Panelist at various events discussing topics including Empowering Black Females, Police Read Miranda Rights, Racism & Microaggressions, and Mass Incarceration

Trainings

• Microintervention training (microaggression, implicit bias, diversity and inclusion), Old Dominion University, Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, Moderator: Dr. Derald Sue

• Train the Trainer: Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Intelligence, Old Dominion University, Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, Moderators: Denise Short, James Perry, and Teresa Van Nostrand Ph.D.

Memberships and affiliations

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS); American Political Science Association (APSA); American Society of Criminology (ASC); Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated; National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice – President, Old Dominion University Chapter (NABCJ); National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS), Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA); Ujamaa Society- Department of Political Science, Clark Atlanta University