Dr. Orrick has served as a faculty member in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology since joining SHSU in 2013. In 2020, she was appointed as the Assistant Chair for the Department. “When I first started here, the separate departments of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Security Studies had just been formed within the College of Criminal Justice,” Dr. Orrick said. “I’ve had the honor of watching the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology grow over the years. To lead this great department is an exciting opportunity.” In addition to her duties as Department Chair, Dr. Orrick also will continue to serve as the Research Director for the Correctional Management Institute of Texas.
“I am very pleased Dr. Orrick has agreed to serve as Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology,” SHSU College of Criminal Justice Dean and Director, Dr. Phillip Lyons said. “The department is one of the largest and most research-productive programs in the nation. I’m excited to see Dr. Orrick’s vision for the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and look forward to watching it flourish under her leadership.”
Dr. Orrick earned her PhD from the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research focuses on the field of corrections, including correctional policy, correctional officer employment and attrition, criminal careers, and prisoner reentry. Her recent work has appeared or is forthcoming in leading journals such as Justice Quarterly, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Crime and Delinquency and the Journal of Criminal Justice.
Dr. Orrick replaces Dr. Bill Wells, who is stepping away as chair to focus on other initiatives within the College of Criminal Justice. “Bill has been a great mentor,” Dr. Orrick said. “I look forward to building on the foundation he established here in the Department as well as continuing to work with him in his new role.”
To read more about Dr. Orrick, including a look at her recent publications, visit her faculty bio page on the SHSU College of Criminal Justice website.