Criminal Justice and Criminology Professor Receives Prestigious W.E.B. Du Bois Award

ATLANTA — The Western Society of Criminology (WSC) recently honored Thaddeus Johnson (Ph.D. ’20), an assistant professor in Georgia State University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, with the 2025 W.E.B. Du Bois Award. The prestigious recognition was presented during the WSC’s annual conference held in Seattle Feb. 7.

“Dr. Thaddeus Johnson’s recognition with the W.E.B. Du Bois Award is a testament to his outstanding scholarship and deep commitment to advancing criminal justice research,” said Thomas J. Vicino, dean of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. “We are incredibly proud to have him as a member of our faculty and celebrate this well-deserved recognition.”

The W.E.B. Du Bois Award is an annual honor instituted by the WSC more than 25 years ago. It recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing awareness of racial and ethnic issues in criminal justice. Johnson’s selection marks a milestone for the department as he is the first faculty member to receive the honor.

With over two decades of experience, Johnson brings a unique perspective to his academic work, combining scholarly research with practical insights gained during his time as a police commander in Memphis, Tenn. After earning his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Georgia State University in 2020, he joined the faculty, focusing his research on police reforms, predictive bias and racially disparate justice outcomes.

His work has been featured in prominent media outlets, including TIME magazine, where he has co-authored articles with other Georgia State criminology faculty — including Natasha Johnson, a lecturer, clinical instructor and director of the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Criminal Justice Administration, and Distinguished University Professor William Sabol — on reducing police-involved fatalities and addressing suburban crime issues.

Johnson’s research and commentary have positioned him as a significant voice in national conversations about equity in law enforcement and public safety, and his exceptional contributions to the field have garnered multiple accolades. Notably, in 2023, he was named among the university’s first Ignite Award recipients and received the Dean’s Early Career Award from the Andrew Young School. He also serves as a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice.

“I am deeply honored to receive the W.E.B. Du Bois Award,” Johnson said. “This award affirms my mission to bridge the gap between data and lived experience, policy and practice, history and the urgent demands of today. We must remain relentless in challenging injustice, holding power accountable and driving meaningful reform everywhere.”

— By AYSPS Graduate Student Assistant Ayomidotun Olugbenle (M.A. in Communication)