08/30/2026
Northeastern State University welcomes Dr. Mary Isis Wuestewald as its newest faculty member and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice. Dr. Wuestewald earned a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and brings more than 15 years of higher education teaching experience to the classroom. Prior to joining Northeastern State University, she served as a criminal justice faculty member at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, where she taught a range of undergraduate criminal justice courses and supported student research and professional development.
Dr. Wuestewald’s scholarly work focuses on policing, organizational justice, police self-legitimacy, employee engagement, civic engagement, and mass violence. Her research has appeared in Police Practice and Research and the Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture. Her doctoral research examined relationships among organizational justice, police self-legitimacy, employee engagement, and civic engagement among law enforcement officers across the United States. She has also conducted research on media portrayals of mass murder incidents and the influence of public perceptions on criminal justice issues.
In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Wuestewald contributes to the profession as a peer reviewer for several respected journals, including Policing and Society, Police Practice and Research, Public Administration Review, and Crime & Delinquency. Her current research interests include police officer well-being, criminal psychology, violence in society, and the effects of media and politics on the criminal justice system. Through her teaching, scholarship, and professional service, Dr. Wuestewald is committed to preparing the next generation of criminal justice professionals while contributing to research that strengthens law enforcement organizations and community engagement.
