Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Names Leah Daigle Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs

ATLANTA — Leah Daigle has been named associate dean of faculty affairs in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (AYSPS) effective July 1, 2024. Daigle is a Distinguished University Professor in the college’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

In this role, Daigle will lead the college’s faculty affairs portfolio with a strategic focus on recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining an outstanding faculty body across the five academic units of the college. She will also lead a new task force centered on organizational development and community in collaboration with AYSPS faculty and staff.

Daigle joins the Dean’s Office with a wealth of leadership experience spanning her 16-year career at Georgia State University (GSU). Since August 2023 she has served as chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Previously, she was associate chair and director of graduate studies. Across her various leadership roles, she has recruited and mentored outstanding doctoral students, supported the growth of graduate programs, and led the implementation of several department initiatives to foster research and reward faculty and student mentorship.

“Dr. Daigle is a talented, respected leader with demonstrated results,” said Dean Thomas Vicino. “She has been a key leader in her department as well as the broader GSU community for more than a decade. We are thrilled about the experience and knowledge she brings to the position as we work to meet today’s challenges in recruiting, developing and retaining top-level faculty.”

Daigle is committed to creating positive pathways for the professional development of faculty. As a faculty associate for faculty development at Georgia State, Daigle led efforts to develop a faculty mentoring program and to create an inclusive culture and sense of belonging in the campus community. She has also participated in the GSU Leadership for the Advancement of Women Faculty program.

Daigle is a highly cited scholar of victimization and victimology. She has published over 75 peer-reviewed articles that have appeared in leading scholarly outlets. She has authored numerous books and textbooks, including Victimology: The Essentials (3rd edition) and Unsafe in the Ivory Tower: The Sexual Victimization of College Students.

In recognition of her significant contributions in the field of victimology over the course of a lifetime, Daigle received the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Victimology Bonnie S. Fisher Career Award in 2020.

Prior to joining Georgia State, Daigle held faculty positions at the University of North Texas and Georgia Southern University. She holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati, an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Roanoke College.

“Dr. Daigle is well positioned to lead our faculty affairs and development initiatives as we continue to strategically advance our initiatives in alignment with Georgia State University’s Blueprint to 2033: Our Place, Our Time,” Vicino said. “We look forward to working with her in her new role.”