Dr. Jillian Peterson
Executive Director
Dr. Jillian Peterson is a criminology and criminal justice professor at Hamline University and director of their forensic psychology program. Jillian launched her career as a special investigator in New York City, researching the psychosocial life histories of men facing the death penalty. She earned her PhD in psychology and social behavior from the University of California, Irvine, and went on to lead large-scale research studies on mental illness and crime, mass shootings and school shootings, which have received global media attention. Jillian is a sought-after national trainer and speaker on issues related to mental illness and violence, trauma, forensic psychology, and mass violence. She is trained in restorative practices, violence mediation, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and suicide prevention.
Dr. James Densley
Deputy Director
Dr. James Densley is a professor and department chair of criminology and criminal justice at Metro State University. Born and raised in England, James' first job in the United States was as a special education teacher in the New York City public schools. After earning his DPhil in sociology from the University of Oxford, he quickly established himself as one of the world’s leading experts on street gangs and serious youth violence, including violence online. James is the author or editor of 11 books and over 150 journal articles, book chapters, essays, and other works. He has been an invited or plenary speaker on four continents, and his work has attracted acclaim, awards, and global media attention.
