Cicely J. Cottrell, PhD
Chair and Associate Professor, School of Criminal Justice Studies Spalding University
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About Cicely J.
Dr. Cicely J. Cottrell is a nationally engaged scholar, educator, and restorative justice practitioner whose work bridges criminal justice education, youth justice reform, and community-based solutions to harm. As Chair and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Studies at Spalding University, she leads program growth, faculty development, and community partnerships while challenging and supporting students to reimagine justice through accountability, compassion, and real-world application.
Dr. Cottrell brings a rare combination of academic expertise and frontline system experience. Her professional background spans corrections, pretrial services, youth residential programming, jail administration, and federal policy work, including service as a Congressional Intern with the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. This depth of experience informs her teaching, scholarship, and leadership, grounding theory in real-world practice.
A nationally recognized voice in restorative justice and healing-centered engagement, Dr. Cottrell is a certified trainer through the International Institute for Restorative Practices and has facilitated restorative practices training for universities, K–12 schools, juvenile justice agencies, and community organizations. Her scholarship and presentations focus on restorative leadership, storytelling as a tool for engagement and healing, and pathways to justice for Black girls impacted by the juvenile legal system.
At Spalding University, Dr. Cottrell has played a central role in strengthening the Criminal Justice Studies program, including increasing enrollment by more than 50 percent, expanding experiential learning and internship pathways, and ensuring compliance with accreditation and institutional standards. She is also the Principal Investigator of a Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice Title II grant supporting Sister’s Keeper Achieving Resilience and Success, a diversion program designed to support Black girls and reduce system involvement through restorative, community-centered approaches.
Dr. Cottrell’s research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, and she is a frequent presenter at national conferences, including the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Her work has earned multiple honors, including Spalding University’s Outstanding Faculty of the Year Trustee Award in 2025.
She holds a PhD in Sociology and Criminology from Howard University, an MS in Administration of Justice from the University of Louisville, and a BS in Political Science from Western Kentucky University.
