Kelly Pinter, Carroll University

Dr. Kelly Pinter

Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice Get Contact Info

TEACHES IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM(S)

Criminal Justice Sociology

Biography

Dr. Pinter completed work on sexual assault on college campuses with a focus on the survivor’s perspective. Specifically, she is interested in understanding survivors’ experiences with the criminal justice and university systems after rape and sexual assault as well as how intersectionality plays out in these cases. She enjoys teaching any sociology or criminal justice course that focuses on social justice, incorporates feminism, and acknowledges oppression and how to fight it. Before coming to Carroll, Dr. Pinter taught at Loyola University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the College of Lake County, Harper College, and Kaplan University. She taught in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Social Work, and Public Safety.

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago, Ph.D in Sociology, 2015
  • University of Illinois at Chicago, M.A. in Criminal Justice, 2007

Areas of Specialization

Race and Ethnicity, Sex and Gender, Sexual Assault, Criminology, Victimology

Scholarly and Professional Achievements

Publications 

  • Laurie Cooper-Stoll, Terry Lilley, and Kelly Pinter (2016) “Gender-Blind Sexism and Rape Myth Acceptance.” Violence Against Women, 23 (1): 28-45. 

Service to Carroll University and Profession

I am brand new to Carroll University, but will be working with the Student Involvement Center on the Youth to Discover Program. This program matches at promise youth in the community with Carroll University students as mentors. 

What is your teaching style?

I inspire students to relate criminal justice and sociology to their own lives using relevant research and methods, as well as core concepts and perspectives. As a teaching scholar, I think it is essential to relate research to real life. I bring current events into discussions and relate them to weekly readings. Teaching about related social issues allows students to become more open to personal reflection and encourages them to gather more understanding about how criminal justice and sociology pertains to their own lives. When I integrate the interests of the students with the material, they get to work with social issues that they care about and are then motivated to learn. 

Why do you do what you do?

I teach social justice because I think we need social justice more now than ever before. It is very humbling to know that something that I might say in the classroom might make a future police officer, attorney, social worker, or advocate do the right thing in a potentially unethical situation. I teach at Carroll University so that we have a few more future leaders willing to spread a little more justice around our world. There is nothing more fulfilling. 

What should students know about you?

Students should know that I have walked in their shoes. I know that college can be really tough. As a first generation college student, there were days that I thought that I would never earn my degree. I also had two small children in graduate school making that process really difficult as well. I want all of my students to know that they can fulfill their dreams and that I am always here to remind them of that. My door is always open.

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