ROVV Lab
People
Lab Director
Kathleen (Kate) A. Fox, Ph.D.
Fox is the Director of the Lab and Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her research expertise focuses on crime victimization among underserved populations, with a particular emphasis on American Indian populations. Her work examines theoretical risk factors for interpersonal victimization, including family violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and the murder and missing of Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kate_Fox3
Google Scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=N_-YcMAAAAAJ&view_op=list_works…
Lab Associate Director
Chris Sharp, MSW/MPA (Colorado River Indian Tribes)
Sharp is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of Office of American Indian Projects, within the School of Social Work at the Arizona State University. He is of the Mohave tribe, descendant of the Frog Clan (Bouh'th) and a citizen of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. He earned his B.S. in American Indian Studies, Master of Social Work, and Master of Public Administration at Arizona State University. As Director of the Office of American Indian Project, Sharp coordinates and monitors research among Indigenous communities to ensure a focus that is beneficial to the tribes and one that reinforces a government-to-government approach.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Leonard Mukosi, SJD. (Zezuru Tribe, Zimbabwe)
Leonard (Leo) Mukosi is an Indigenous scholar from Zimbabwe currently serving as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the ROVV lab. He holds a doctorate in law (SJD) specializing in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy from the University of Arizona College of Law. He also graduated from Michigan State University Law School with a Master of Laws (LLM) focusing on International Human Rights Law. Before moving to the US, Leo attended school in South Africa at Rhodes University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Centering on decolonial theory, Leo's current research foregrounds the validity of Indigenous knowledge within the criminology field. Leo has partnered with Indigenous communities in the US in developing laws to address domestic violence and protect tribal cultural resources, including the Pueblo of Isleta in New Mexico and several federally recognized tribes in Michigan and Montana. He also currently serves as an Expert Member representing Southern Africa in the African Union's Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
Research Project Coordinator
Cassie Harvey, MS/MLS (Navajo / Zuni)
Cassie Harvey is a dual Masters student within the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University. She is working towards her graduate degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice, as well as her Legal studies in Indian and Entrepreneurship Law. Harvey received dual Bachelor’s degrees at Arizona State University in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Public Service and Public Policy. Her research interests include teen dating violence, at-risk or disenfranchised youth, intergenerational trauma, Native American incarceration, and reservation bordertown policing.
Research Assistant
Julianne Culey, MA
Julianne is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Sociology at the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University. She currently holds a M.A. in Sociology from ASU and a B.A.A. in Marketing from Central Michigan University. Her research interests include sexual assault victimization, rape culture, and feminist methodologies.
Michelle Hovel (Navajo Nation)
Culturally, politically, and socially, Michelle Hovel maintains a strong connection to her Diné (Navajo) heritage. Originally from the Navajo reservation community of Greasewood, AZ located in the southwest portion of the Diné Nation. Michelle currently resides in central Phoenix. A self-imposed educational fast-track student at Phoenix College, she collectively earned in two years an Associate of Arts Degree, an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Administration of Justice, an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Forensic Technology, and finally, an Academic Certificate in American Indian Studies. Continuing her education in 2019, Michelle transferred to Arizona State University (ASU) from where she will graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice in Summer 2020. Michelle plans to begin graduate school pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice at her soon to be alma mater ASU in Fall 2020. Her eleven-year professional career as a Detention Officer with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office serves as the catalyst for her wish to compile meaningful research data, write professionally, and publish nationally in the critical domains of social justice in Indian Country, criminal jurisdictional reform in tribal communities, restorative justice among Indigenous families and kin, decolonization initiatives at the grassroots level in cities that border reservations, and unsolved cases of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Michelle’s most recent endeavor is one that she finds most rewarding. Since Summer 2019, she has been employed as a Student Success Specialist. She provides support within the scope of culturally oriented college services as well as mentoring to at-risk American Indian high school students who participate in Phoenix College’s Hoop of Learning Program. Michelle has developed and expanded upon a student support system tailored specifically for American Indian students in two Navajo Language Studies courses and one American Indian History course during the Academic Year 2019-2020.
Brianna Minjarez
Brianna Minjarez is a second-year law student at Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Minjarez received her Bachelor’s Degree of Sociology from St. Mary’s University. Her undergraduate research focused on retention in first generation Mexican American students and the quality of services provided to them that aim to ensure their college success. Her previous work includes working for three different private practice law firms including Family Law, Immigration Law, and Real Estate Law. Minjarez is eager to use her experience to work on legal issues relating to and impacting Indian Country upon graduation from law school
Gabriel Alvarez
Gabriel Alvarez is a concurrent masters student in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the School of Public Affairs. He received his Bachelor's Degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. His research interests include intimate partner violence and homicide, violent victimization, and escalation within them. Gabriel is also working as an Information and Public Affairs Intern for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry.
Kayleigh Stanek, Ph.D.
Kayleigh A. Stanek graduated with a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. During her time at ASU, Kayleigh served in the ROVV lab as a lab manager for three years. Her research focuses on criminal justice responses to victims and victimization, specifically sexual assault and domestic violence. She is also interested in victimization among special populations such as college students, Indigenous peoples, and other minority groups. Among these groups, she is particularly interested in exploring victims’ needs in terms of programming and criminal justice responses. Her work also focuses on community-based participatory research and creating policy and programming recommendations.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kayleigh_Stanek
Hilary Edwards (Swinomish Indian Tribal Community)
Hilary Edwards is a Swinomish Indian Tribal Community member and a first-year law student at Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Edwards received her Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration, major in Business Management from Seattle University. After graduating from Seattle University in 2017, Edwards traveled to Australia to work on issues regarding youth suicide, to Nepal for a social justice trip focusing on human trafficking, and Fiji to address indigenous health care matters. Edwards is eager to work on legal issues relating to and impacting Indian Country. Her long-term career goal is making legal resources accessible to all groups of people, specifically to those who are underrepresented and marginalized.
Her previous work includes working for the Swinomish Indian Tribe as a legal assistant working on revising Swinomish tribal code and ensuring the Tribe had the proper procedures in place to exercise the Violence Against Women Act in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Court.
Her previous work includes working for the Swinomish Indian Tribe as a legal assistant working on revising Swinomish tribal code and ensuring the Tribe had the proper procedures in place to exercise the Violence Against Women Act in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Court.
Sara Julian, MSW
Sara Julian is a Post-Master’s Law and Policy Fellow with Florida State University’s Institute for Justice Research and Development and Arizona State University’s Academy for Justice. This dual fellowship seeks to bridge the gap between interdisciplinary studies of law, policy, and social work. Sara received her Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and has four years’ experience working at the intersection of social work and criminal justice. She has worked with survivors of domestic violence and individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, she served as an advocate and mitigation specialist for the Federal Public Defender. Sara is passionate about reforming the criminal justice system through research and policy with an interest in how law and policy impact marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Cheston Dalangyawma (Hopi Tribe)
Cheston Dalangyawma is a member of the Hopi Tribe and belongs to the Sun Clan of the Village of Hoat-villa (Hotevilla). He served five years in the United States Marine Corps and completed two deployments to Iraq in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Dalangyawma recently graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a certificate in Homeland Security from Arizona State University. He will be continuing his education in the pursuit a Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice in the Fall of 2020. Prior to attending Arizona State University, Dalangyawma served his community for three years as a Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer on the Hopi Reservation.
Lab Director
Kathleen A. Fox, Ph.D.
Kathleen A. Fox (Kate Fox) is the Director of the Lab and Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her research expertise focuses on crime victimization among underserved populations, with a particular emphasis on American Indian populations. Her work examines theoretical risk factors for interpersonal victimization, including family violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and the murder and missing of Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kate_Fox3
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=N_-YcMAAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&pagesize=100
[link to Kate’s CV]
Lab Manager
[photo of Kayleigh Stanek]
Kayleigh Stanek, M.S.
Kayleigh Stanek is a doctoral student in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She received her Master’s of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on criminal justice responses to victims and victimization with a particular emphasis on sexual assault and domestic violence. She conducts research on crime victimization among underserved populations, including American Indian women.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kayleigh_Stanek
Google Scholar:
[link to CV]
Graduate Research Assistants
[photo of Hilary Edwards]
Hilary Edwards
Hilary Edwards is a Swinomish Indian Tribal Community member and a first-year law student at Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Edwards received her Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration, major in Business Management from Seattle University. After graduating from Seattle University in 2017, Edwards traveled to Australia to work on issues regarding youth suicide, to Nepal for a social justice trip focusing on human trafficking, and Fiji to address indigenous health care matters. Edwards is eager to work on legal issues relating to and impacting Indian Country. Her long-term career goal is making legal resources accessible to all groups of people, specifically to those who are underrepresented and marginalized.
Her previous work includes working for the Swinomish Indian Tribe as a legal assistant working on revising Swinomish tribal code and ensuring the Tribe had the proper procedures in place to exercise the Violence Against Women Act in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Court.
[photo of Sara Julian]
Sara Julian
Sara Julian is a Post-Master’s Law and Policy Fellow with Florida State University’s Institute for Justice Research and Development and Arizona State University’s Academy for Justice. This dual fellowship seeks to bridge the gap between interdisciplinary studies of law, policy, and social work. Sara received her Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and has four years’ experience working at the intersection of social work and criminal justice. She has worked with survivors of domestic violence and individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, she served as an advocate and mitigation specialist for the Federal Public Defender. Sara is passionate about reforming the criminal justice system through research and policy with an interest in how law and policy impact marginalized and vulnerable populations.
[link to Sara’s CV]
[photo of Carmen Tsosie]
Carmen Tsosie
Carmen Tsosie is part of the Navajo Tribe and a graduate student at Arizona State University. Tsosie graduated from Argosy University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Psychology. She is pursuing a Master’s of Arts in Criminal Justice. Tsosie is currently the appointed Vice President of the Alpha Phi Sigma criminal justice honor society for the Arizona State University chapter. Her research interests include victimization among minority women with a special focus on spousal and sexual assault of Indigenous women and children. Her previous work experience includes social work and working closely with mental health professionals at a suicide prevention center. She is currently employed as a public safety telecommunicator for a tribal police department.
[link to Carmen’s CV]
Undergraduate Research Assistant
[photo of Ynez Chacon]
Ynez Chacon
Ynez Teresa Chacon (Tohono O'odham/Chicanx) is in her final semester in attaining her Bachelor of Science in Sociology and minors in American Indian Studies and Family and Human Development at Arizona State University. Chacon is an executive member of the American Indian Social Work Student Association and an AmeriCorps volunteer completing an internship with the Office of American Indian Projects at Arizona State. She has worked as a research assistant on the Youth Identity Project, exploring the effects of racialization on the ways in which Latinx and American Indian youth understand national belonging. Chacon is a Teach for America 2020 Corps member and is excited to infuse Indigenous perspectives into her classroom in Dallas, Texas following graduation. Her research interests include the intersectional experiences of both American Indian and Chicanx women through confronting established frameworks and master narratives rooted in historical contexts. Chacon aspires to work as a clinical social worker after earning a Master of Social Work degree following her Teach for America commitment.
[link to Ynez’s CV]
External Collaborators
ASU’s Office for American Indian Projects [link in new window to https://socialwork.asu.edu/content/office-american-indian-projects
American Indian Policy Institute [link in new window to https://aipi.asu.edu
American Indian Initiatives [link in new window to https://americanindianaffairs.asu.edu