MSU’s Rader garners national award for transformative research

MSU’s Rader garners national award for transformative research

Contact: Sarah Nicholas

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State Professor Nicole E. Rader is being recognized with a prestigious honor received this semester signifying her contributions to the field of women, gender and crime, particularly her groundbreaking work on fear of crime and victimization.  

Professor Nicole Rader at the Temple University Press booth at the American Society of Criminology in November.
Professor Nicole Rader at the Temple University Press booth at the American Society of Criminology in November. (Photo submitted)

Rader was awarded the 2024 Distinguished Scholar Award by the Division of Feminist Criminology (DFC)––the largest division of the American Society of Criminology (ASC)––and was selected for “exemplary scholarship,” specifically her 2023 Temple University Press publication “Teaching Fear: How We Learn to Fear Crime and Why It Matters.” The book explores how fear of crime is socially constructed and taught, examining its implications for individuals and society.

“I am honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award for my work that explores research on victimization, the fear of crime, and the gendered consequences of crime myths and misperceptions regarding crime in society,” said Rader, who serves as head of MSU’s Department of Sociology and assistant dean for strategic initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The DFC, formerly the Division on Women and Crime, is now in its 40th year and is committed to advancing research, theory development and pedagogy at the intersection of gender, crime and justice. Through its annual awards program, the division celebrates the transformative achievements of students and professional scholars alike.

The ASC, an international organization founded in 1941, is dedicated to advancing scientific and professional knowledge related to crime and its prevention, control and treatment.

For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Sociology, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.sociology.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.