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About Shelly Wagers

Dr. Shelly M. Wagers is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of South Florida Saint Petersburg campus.  The focus of her research and experience is in the area of intimate partner violence, specifically understanding the internal motives behind these behaviors, and how these internal motives can either enhance or obstruct their interpersonal relationships at home and in their career.  She is currently developing a theory called Internal Power®, which measures these internal mechanisms and their impact on using coercive control and violence towards an intimate partner.  Dr. Wagers has published numerous research articles on domestic/intimate partner violence in journals such as Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Partner Abuse and Violence and Victims.  She has also authored several book chapters and prepared technical reports for local agencies.  Dr. Wagers has presented her research on intimate partner violence at numerous national and international conferences, such as the American Society of Criminology and the International Summit’s sponsored by the Institute on Violence Abuse and Trauma.  provides ongoing continuing education training to criminal justice professionals. 
 
Prior to entering academia, Dr. Wagers worked as a sexual and domestic violence prevention trainer and served as a sworn law enforcement officer in Florida.  She has over 20 years of experience developing and delivering educational classes, workshops, trainings and seminars in violence prevention and effective criminal justice responses to domestic violence. Dr. Wagers has consulted with local Domestic Violence Task Forces, local domestic violence centers and law enforcement agencies and the Virginia Batterer Intervention Certification Board on implementing evidence-based practices in the field.  Dr. Wagers currently serves as an Associated Editor for the Behavioral Sciences Journal Partner Abuse and she serves as a Volunteer Executive Director for the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence (www.npeiv.org)

Positions

Present Assistant Professor, University of South Florida College of Arts & Sciences
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2014 - 2018 Assistant Professor, Radford University
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2012 - 2014 Assistant Professor, Georgia Gwinnett College ‐ Department of Criminal Justice/Criminology
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2011 - 2012 Adjunct Instructor, Hillsborough Community College ‐ Department of Criminal Justice
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2007 - 2012 Adjunct Faculty, University of South Florida ‐ Department of Criminology
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2007 - 2012 Adjunct Faculty, University of South Florida at Lakeland ‐ Department of Criminology
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2003 - 2006 Department Chair and Instructor, Remington College - Largo Campus ‐ Department of Criminal Justice
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Disciplines


Research Interests


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Education

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2012 Ph.D., University of South Florida ‐ Criminology
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2005 M.A., University of South Florida ‐ Criminology
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2001 Law Enforcement State Certification, Hillsborough Community College ‐ Criminal Justice Institute
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1994 B.S., University of North Carolina at Greensboro ‐ Public Health Education
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Books & Book Chapters (2)

Peer Reviewed Articles (12)