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Barbara Sims, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Chair, Criminal Justice Program

Barbara Sims

School: Public Affairs

Other Activities: Director of Penn State Harrisburg’s Honors Program.

Hometown:  Calhoun, Louisiana

Education Information: Calhoun High School, University of Arkansas at Little Rock for both undergraduate degree and master’s degree in Criminal Justice; Sam Houston State University for Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Recent and notable publications, awards, and honors:

2007 Penn State Outreach Award

2006 Penn State Harrisburg Teaching Award

Sims, B. & B. Yost et al. “The Efficacy of Victim Services Programs: Alleviating the Psychological Suffering of Victims?” Criminal Justice Policy Review, 71(4):1-20, 2006.

Sims, B. “Creating a Teaching and Learning Environment in Criminal Justice Courses that Promotes Higher Order Thinking.” Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 17(3):336-357, 2006.

Sims, B. & B. Yost et al. “Use and Nonuse of Victim Services Programs: Implications from a Statewide Survey of Crime Victims.” Criminology and Public Policy, 4(2): 361-384, 2005.

Sims, B. & J. Ruiz et al. “Police Perceptions of Their Working Environment: Surveying the Small Department.” The International Journal of Police Science and Management, 7(4) 245-263, 2005.

Ruiz, J. & B. Sims. “Citizens’ Perceptions of Police: The Role of the Citizen Police Academy in the Co-Production of Police Services. The Police Forum, 14(4):1-14, 2005.

Sims, B. & E. Johnston. “Examining Public Opinion About Crime and Justice:  A Statewide Study.” Criminal Justice Policy Review, 15(3): 270-293, 2004.

Sims, B. & P. Preston, Editors. Handbook of Juvenile Justice: Theory and Practice.  Taylor and Francis (2006). 

Sims, B., Editor. Substance Abuse Treatment with Correctional Clients: Practical Implications for Institutional and Community Settings. Haworth Press (2005).

Favorite TV show and/or music: My favorite TV show is Law and Order; My favorite Music is I enjoy all forms of music!

Hobbies: Reading and Enjoying Music!

What is the best thing about being a professor at Penn State Harrisburg? The students!

How does your research influence your teaching? It allows me to talk about how the major concepts covered in the classroom can be applied to real world examples!

What is your favorite thing about the Harrisburg area? The people are warm and friendly and I think the City of Harrisburg itself is a unique and beautiful place.

What is your favorite event on campus? Events that allow professors and students to talk with each other.

Why did you choose Penn State Harrisburg? Because it is part of The Pennsylvania State University system and as such all of the resources of the larger university can be utilized here in a more intimate setting.

Do you have a favorite professor-student experience? Yes, when I hear back from students who have graduated and have them tell me how much they learned from my courses and appreciated the interactions we had together!

If you weren’t a professor, what would you be doing? I can’t imagine doing anything else…except perhaps singing and dancing on Broadway!