Dr. Elicka Sparks

Dr. Elicka Sparks joined the Department of Government and Justice Studies in 2003. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Dr. Sparks has received many notable awards and honors including the Outstanding Teacher in Arts and Sciences Award (2016), the Academy of Outstanding Teachers Award, the Kappa Sigma Kick-Ass Professor Award for “best lectures” from Florida State University, Outstanding Teacher Meritorious Service Award from the University of Missouri, 50 Most Frequently Cited Articles in Homicide Studies, and 50 Most Frequently Cited Articles in Punishment and Society. Her areas of teaching and research focus on Homicide, Theory, Religion and Crime, and Interpersonal and Intimate Violence. Courses she teaches include Theories of Criminal Justice, Victimology, Homicide, Writing in Criminal Justice, and Culture and Violence. Recent publications include the books The Devil You Know: The Surprising Link between Conservative Christianity and Crime (Prometheus) and Intimate Partner Violence: Effective Procedure, Policy and Response (Taylor & Francis), and she is the author of a best-cited article, Murder as Self Help: Women and Intimate Partner Homicide (Homicide Studies Vol. 3(1): 30-46.). She has published in journals such as Theoretical Criminology, Punishment & Society, The Sex Offender Law Review, International Criminal Justice Review, The Justice Professional, and the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. Dr. Sparks has served as the Honors Program Director for the Department of Government and Justice Studies since 2010. 

Areas of Expertise & Interest:

  • Theory 
  • Religion and crime
  • Situational contexts of crime
  • Interpersonal violence
  • Integrated methodologies

Education:

  • Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Missouri—St. Louis. May 2002
  • M.A. Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Missouri—St. Louis. May 1998
  • B.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Missouri—St. Louis. May 1996

Courses Taught:

  •  Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice (graduate and undergraduate)
  • Juvenile Procedures
  • Victimology (graduate and undergraduate level)
  • Homicide
  •  Female Crime and Delinquency
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice Theory
  •  Qualitative Methodology (graduate level)
  • Juvenile Justice
  •  Culture and Violence (graduate level)
  •  Writing in Criminal Justice
  • Youth Crime Problems (graduate level)
  • White Collar Crime
  • Statistics (graduate and undergraduate)
  • Terrorism (graduate level)
  • Urban Analytical Methods (graduate level)
  • Victimology 
Title: Professor of Criminal Justice
Department: petersnes@appstate.edu

Email address: Email me

Phone: (828) 262-6169

Fax: (828) 262-2947

Office address
352L Anne Belk Hall

Attachments

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Sparks CV 2023document211.85 KB