Molly George, Ph.D.

About

Dr. Molly George is a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at California Lutheran University, where she has taught since 2011. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a B.A. from the University of Denver.

Dr. George's research is community-engaged and grant-funded, focusing on program evaluation, vulnerable populations, and justice-involved youth. Much of her recent work centers on the Ventura County Family Justice Center and Camp Hope, a summer program for children affected by domestic violence. She has led multiple faculty-student research teams supported by Culver Mentor Fellowship Grants and external funding from the Ventura Council of Governments. Her scholarship has appeared in journals including the Journal of Community Psychology, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, and Sociological Inquiry.

Her courses include Criminology, Research Methods and Statistics, White-Collar Crime, Deviance in U.S. Society, and Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Crime. She serves as faculty advisor to the Criminal Justice Student Association and has a longstanding commitment to experiential and community-based learning.

Dr. George has been honored with two awards from the College of Arts and Sciences at Cal Lutheran: the Dean's Award for Service in 2026 (co-awarded with Drs. Adina Nack and Sheridan Wigginton), and the inaugural Dean's Award for Scholarship and Creative Work in 2020.

Education

• Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A.,(Honors), University of California, Santa Barbara
• B.A., (Honors), University of Denver

Expertise

• Applied Criminology & Program Evaluation • Community-Based Interventions for Juveniles and Vulnerable Populations • Sociology of Work & Occupations • Scholarship of Teaching & Experiential Learning

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

George, M. & Twyford, J.M. (2021) "Providing a safer passage: Perceptions about a neighborhood intervention program for disadvantaged youth." Journal of Community Psychology. 49(7): 2838-2852.

George, Molly and Robert Meadows. (2016) “Policing on the surveillance frontier: Officer perspectives of body-worn cameras,” Journal of Criminal Investigation and Criminology. 67(4): 300-312. 

George, Molly, Helen Lim, Schannae Lucas, and Robert Meadows. (2015). “Learning by doing: Experiential learning in criminal justice,” Journal of Criminal Justice Education. 26(4): 471-492.

George, Molly. (2013). “Seeking legitimacy: The professionalization of life coaching." Sociological Inquiry. 83(2): 179-208. 

George, Molly. (2012). "Teaching focus group interviewing: Benefits and challenges.” Teaching Sociology. 41(3): 257-70.

George, Molly. (2008). “Interactions in expert service work: Demonstrating professionalism in personal training.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 37(1): 108-31. 

George, Molly. (2005). “Making sense of muscle: Body experiences of collegiate women athletes.” Sociological Inquiry 75(3): 317-45.

Book Chapters, Book Reviews, Encyclopedia Entries, and Reprints 

George, Molly. (2019). Book Review of Tomas C. Mijares' (2018) “Careers for the criminal justice major: A practical guide to course selection, descriptions of entry-level positions and best prospects for career development.” Journal of Criminal Justice Education 31(1):157-159.

George, Molly. (2013). “The sociology of leadership coaching.” Collective Efficacy: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on International Leadership, edited by Anthony H. Normore and Nancy Erbe. Bingley, UK, Emerald Group Publishing. 

George, Molly. (2013). “Lifestyle work.” Sociology of Work: An Encyclopedia, edited by Vicki Smith. Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications. 

George, Molly. (2010). “Making sense of muscle: Body experiences of collegiate women athletes.” Article reprinted in: R. E. Washington and D. Karen (eds.) Sport, Power, and Society: Institutions and Practices: A Reader. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.  

Grant Funding

• Ventura Council of Governments, ($8,000),"When Home is Not A Safe Haven: Acute Needs Assessment of the Ventura County Family Justice Center in the time of COVID-19." 2020
• Ventura Council of Governments ($8,000),"A Systematic Impact Evaluation of Project Safe Passage." 2018.
• Culver Behavioral Science Research Fellowship Mentor ($1,5000): 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015.
• Faculty Research and Creative Works Award ($5,000), to support "Safe Passage College Experience Day." 2018.
• Provost's Professional Development Fund ($1,200 and $1,670), 2019
• Provost's Office Experiential Learning Mini Grant ($1,000), 2016
• President's Diversity Council Mini Grant ($1,000), 2016
• Dean's Office Mini Grant, ($500), 2016
• Hewlett Grant ($920) in 2013, ($300) in 2012 and ($700) in 2011
• Fellowship for Research in the Service of Communities ($10,000) from the Center for Equality and Justice