Jeffrey Ian Ross
professor
School of Criminal Justice
Additional Roles:
fellow, Center for International and Comparative Law
fellow, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Contact Information:
Phone: 410.837.6086
Email: jross@ubalt.edu
M.A., Ph.D., University of Colorado
B.A., University of Toronto
Jeffrey Ian Ross' website (C.V. on site)
By summer 1979, after dropping out of high school and bouncing around in a succession of transient, low-wage jobs, I was working full time as a cab driver. This experience had numerous challenges, but I enjoyed the fact that each day was an adventure, and I was constantly meeting and talking with different people. I decided I was destined for a profession that would allow me to continue working with and helping individuals on a regular basis, and I contemplated a career as a psychologist or psychiatrist. I knew, however, that I'd need a university education to do so.
I enrolled in the pre-university program at the University of Toronto and, after considerable hard work and a little bit of luck, was accepted into first-year studies at the U of T.
I initially struggled in my studies, but a couple of excellent mentors helped me settle into the program. To support myself, I started working part time, then full time, in a correctional facility. I eventually went on to earn both a master's degree and a doctorate in political science at the University of Colorado. Over time, however, my interests seemed to fall more in line with the areas of criminology and criminal justice.
Looking back, I suppose it's fitting that I became a criminologist. It seems that over the years, most of the kids I grew up with fell into or chose one of three careers: police officers, criminals or lawyers. So, as the author M. Scott Peck once said, I took "the road less traveled."
And the rest, as they say, is history. Over the past two decades, I have researched, written and lectured primarily on corrections, policing, political crime (especially terrorism and state crime), violence (especially criminal, political and religious), crime and justice in Indian Country, and global crime and criminal justice. My work has appeared in many academic journals and books, as well as in popular media outlets.
Since 1998, after working for three years with the U.S. Department of Justice, I have been a criminologist at the University of Baltimore and currently hold the positions of professor in the College of Public Affairs' School of Criminal Justice and fellow at the Center for International and Comparative Law.
Since starting my career, I have authored, co-authored, edited or co-edited a number of books—the most recent of which is Routledge Handbook of Graffiti and Street Art (Routledge, 2016).
The University of Baltimore offers an excellent working and learning environment where I can combine my experience, interests and skills to enable students to excel both academically and professionally.
You can learn more about me on my website, www.jeffreyianross.com.