She received her PhD in criminology from the University of Maryland. Her primary area of research interest is criminological theory, especially from a life course perspective. Her current work in this area focuses on the role of various life events, including parenthood and military service, on trajectories of offending. Her other research interests include sexual aggression on college campuses, integrating feminist and mainstream theories of violence against women, and intimate partner violence and police behavior. She has published articles in the leading peer-reviewed journals in the field, including Criminology, Justice Quarterly, Crime & Delinquency, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and the Journal of Criminal Justice.