Bev-Freda Jackson Adjunct Professorial Lecturer Justice, Law & Criminology
- Degrees
- PhD, Political Science, Public Administration, Howard University
MA, Political Science, American University
BA, Political Science and English, Gettysburg College - Bio
-
Bev-Freda Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and English with a minor in African American studies from Gettysburg College. A master’s in political science from American University’s School of Public Affairs: Department of Government and doctorate in Political Science from Howard University’s Department of Political Science with concentrations in Black Politics, American Government and Public Administration. Her dissertation work focused on issues of social justice and patterns of school desegregation in the post Brown era. She is currently on faculty at American University, School of Public Affairs Department of Justice, Law and Criminology where she teaches courses on Race Issues in Justice, Race and Justice in America, Justice and Public Policy and American Experience II.
Bev-Freda’s research experience includes contribution to the publication Putting the
Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching: A Resource Guide for Classrooms and
Communities, as well as work at the Brookings Institution on racial health disparities in
communities of color in Baltimore City, Maryland. Bev-Freda’s scholarship and publications include an examination of racial disparities, equity and inclusion, segregation in the public education system and outcomes for children of color, disproportionality and disparate treatment of persons of color across systems.
Additionally, areas of expertise include the school to prison pipeline, criminal justice reform, and racial inequity across systems. She has served on numerous panels, providing speaking engagements for federal government on race equity, as well as authoring publications social justice, “What is Intolerance Fatigue,” “Ketanji Brown Jackson and the color-blind society of Martin Luther King Jr.,” “Black female prosecutors like Fani Willis face the unequal burden of both racist and sexist attacks,” and “Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson made a suggestion during the 1963 March on Washington − and it changed a good speech to a majestic sermon on an American dream” and a book chapter in Intellectual Freedom, Academic Freedom, and Social Justice. She is also a contribution author to American University’s Women and Politics Institute’s Gender on the Ballot authoring, “The November 2024 Election: A Snapshot of Down Ballot Impact” and “Black Women and the Changing Legal Landscape.”
Additionally, Bev-Freda has partnered with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and the NAACP Young Adult Committee in addressing issues of social justice and education reform. She was appointed to the Board of Counseling for the Commonwealth of Virginia for six years, 2016-2022 and also served on the Human Services Advisory Board for the City of Chesapeake, Virginia for six years, 2016-2022.
- See Also
- SPA Department of Justice, Law and Criminology
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request. Explore all AU Faculty Experts in our media guide.
Teaching
Spring 2025
-
JLC-455 Race Issues in Justice