Dr. Diana Falco joined the faculty at Appalachian State University in 2026. Her teaching and scholarship take an interdisciplinary focus and draw upon work in the fields of criminology, social work, mental health, drugs/substance use, political science, and higher education. Her areas of research interest include public opinion and punitiveness, capital punishment, criminal justice education, study abroad, police-community relationships, program evaluations, and survey methodologies. Her most recent article publications appeared in the journals Crime & Delinquency, Criminal Justice Studies, and the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. Dr. Falco has taught across criminology and criminal justice curriculums and has taught over 35 distinct courses in the field throughout her career. She has also led numerous comparative & international justice study abroad programs for university students since 2010, leading over 400 students to 14 different countries.
Education:
Ph.D. Criminology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
M.S. Criminal Justice Administration, Niagara University
B.A. Political Science and Criminology & Criminal Justice, Niagara University
Areas of Research Interests:
- Punitiveness
- Public Opinion on Crime and Justice
- Capital Punishment
- Wrongful Convictions
- Criminal Justice Education
- Study Abroad
Areas of Teaching Interests:
- Wrongful Convictions & Innocence
- Drugs, Substance Use, and Crime
- Mental Health & Criminal Justice
- U.S. Criminal Courts
- Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
- Criminological Theory
- Punishment & Sentencing
Title: Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Department: falcodl@appstate.edu
Email address: Email me
Phone: (828) 262-6916
Fax: (828) 262-2947