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I am an Associate Professor of Political Science & Criminal Justice at the University of South Alabama. Credentialed (see left drop-down menu). I am originally from Germany but have lived and worked in a number of classes including Colorado, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and, now, Alabama. Want to read more? Just click on that down arrow.
My recent and ongoing research addresses the lack of gender in capital punishment research which informed the need for this website and further research. I anticipate that refining the dataset, adding much-needed variables-- will be my focus for many years to come. While seemingly divergent, the connections to my past and current research interest are many including the identity component and, specifically, how that intersects with abuse and violence both at the individual and structural levels. My sabbatical from 2023-2024 was originally centered on building off the research of Dr. David V. Baker and Victor L. Streib. During the course of my research, I found that "America's Foremost Historian of the Death Penalty" was from Alabama--the place I now call home. Despite M. Watt Espy's recognition in academia, particularly the dataset named the "Espy File", I quickly discovered that the bulk of his research has yet to be fully recognized. I hope to help shine light on this extraordinary person -- the first person to undertake the momentous task of documenting all state-sanctioned executions in U.S. history--while simultaneously providing the most comprehensive listing of executed women to date. For a beautiful flowchart, follow this link.
(some of) the people that inspired or contributed, directly or indirectly, to where I am today
(some of) the people that inspired or contributed, directly or indirectly, to where I am today
Linda Kowall, my mother; Emily, my sister; Jimmy, my best friend; and my unnamed but oh-so-appreciated partner in life and amazing family. My family in America (and yes, of course, the Waites in my favorite place--Staten Island, NYC) and my family in Sachsen, Germany. Thank you, Kim. You know why. The Satori crowd. Karen and Chuck (the OG SC of Mobile), thank you.
Thank you to my former students of whose accomplishments I'm so proud but, in all honesty, who stand out as exceptional people. I am proud to have been in their orbits. Anna, Rachel (the one who works for the Texas Attorney General! ), and Rachel (Seattle doing important things that is all I will say), Darcy (be my lawyer), Sonja, Lilia, Lauren (also be my lawyer), Lindsey (location protected! But apparently you're also close to Erica and a couple of other of my favorite people doing amazing work), Talia, Patrick, Andrew, A'Mya, Mallory, Robby ("The"), Colleen, Leatha, Alton, The OG AG, Margaret, Corbin, Allysa, Abdo, Dara, Joe, Brantley, Peter, Noah, Mayte, Mohammed, Breighanna (founder of Stopping Traffick), (off the top of my head...I know there are so many more because I am oldish :) ), Calvilyn...I could really use your help with all of this.
The Rape Crisis Center (Shawna, of course) for opening my eyes, for inspiring so many of my students.
Aid to Inmate Mothers, https://inmatemoms.org/ (Carol Potok, thank you, and thank you Mrs. Smykla for introducing us!). Thank you to Sue Bell Cobb, Former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and founder of Redemption Earned. Dorothy M. Schulz. It's been an honor to share a name so closely (lucky, really) and it was such an honor to have met you, albeit only for a short time. I know you are missed. Thank you for letting me talk (at) you. I was so excited to share time with you and you were so gracious.
The University of New Orleans Political Science Department, particularly my mentor Professor Richard Engstrom, who, without his brilliance and encouragement, I know I would not be as fortunate in my career as I have been. I'm eternally grateful. Drs. Day, Huelshoff, Hadley, and Rosenblum....thank you. To my former colleagues Hannes, Mike, and Steve.
Lastly, certain not least, the University of South Alabama, especially the many outstanding colleagues I have and have had the pleasure to work with (or just enjoy their company. Steve :) ) Sarah, Amber, MJ, Valerie, Robin, Tim, Chris, ...I miss seeing you, your wisdom, your kindness. The students who have shown interest, encouragement, and have had the patience to listen to me talk...even after class is way over.
This book is amazing. I wish I could thank the author but, sadly, Kai T. Erikson passed in November of last year. The article embedded here discusses how Yale sociologist Kai T. Erikson, who spent his career studying how communities cope with collective trauma and it highlights one of his most challenging assignments documenting the long-term impacts of mercury poisoning on the Grassy Narrows First Nation community.
Data collection is important!
As Clinical Professor Sandra Babcock, Cornell Law School and the Co-Founder of the Center on Gender and Extreme Sentencing explains,
"Andrew has long asserted that prosecutors tainted her case with irrelevant testimony regarding her sex life, mothering skills, and clothing. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court agreed. With this landmark 7–2 ruling, the nation’s highest court recognized that harmful gender stereotypes can poison women’s criminal trials." (link to the full article here)
As of June 19th, the case is still being considered. Link to NPR story here
Or, if you prefer, "give credit to whom credit is due"-Samuel Adams
If you would like to be added to the list of contributors, all you need to do is contribute. Alternatively, if you do not want credit, be sure to let me know. There are many places to be credited whether be suggestions for resources for individual persons executed or additional variables in the study description. I would like to create an official acknowledgements page as well as space to showcase the research of others in the field.
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