Lisa Nichols

Faculty

Assistant Professor

Email lisa.nichols@unco.edu
Phone (970) 351-2707
Location Candelaria Hall 2075A
Address University of Northern Colorado Campus Box 147 Greeley, CO 80639
Office Hours Email for in-person or virtual appointment
Lisa Nichols

Biography

Assistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice, mixed methods researcher, non-profit founder, licensed counselor in CO and TX, Board Member for Weld County District Attorney’s Office Crime Victims Compensation, Faculty Advisor Criminal Justice Society and Alpha Phi Sigma

Education

  • Ph.D. Sociology/Criminology, Texas Woman’s University
  • M.A. Psychology, Houston Christian University
  • B.S. Psychology, Texas Christian University

Professional Experience & Affiliations

  • Lecturer, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Northern Colorado,
  • Adjunct Instructor, Department of Sociology, Texas Christian University
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Sociology, Texas Christian University
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-S) in Texas and Colorado

Research Expertise & Interests

Religiously motivated crime, crimes against children, Hate Crimes, victimology, maternal filicide, law enforcement mental health.

Publications

Nichols, L.M.聽& Hemler, D. (2026). 鈥淭he Bad Dad鈥檚 Club鈥�: A Qualitative Study on Parenthood and Family Strain Among Midwestern Police Officers.聽Journal of Colorado Policing.聽(forthcoming, acceptance June 8, 2026).
Nichols, L.M.聽& Hemler, D. (2026). From Immunity to Uncertainty: Colorado USA Police Officer Perceptions on the Impact of Reform-Era Legislature.聽Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice.聽(forthcoming, acceptance June 2, 2026).
Nichols, L.M., Hemler, D. (2026). (Technical Report) Colorado Law Enforcement Perceptions of Reform-Era Legislature, Leadership, Mental Health Resources and Job Stress. University of Northern Colorado.
Nichols, L.M.聽Hemler, D., Allman, A. (2025). 鈥淭his is me removing my mask:鈥� Understanding Stigma and Cultural Barriers to Mental Health Support Among U.S. Police Officers, A Qualitative Study.聽Policing: An International Journal.聽https://www.doi. 10.1108/PIJPSM-08-2025-0148.
Nichols, L.M. & Bowen, K.N. (2025). 鈥淚t鈥檚 Like We Never See the Light at the End of the Tunnel.鈥� Law Enforcement Perceptions on Stakeholder Collaboration and Resources at Children鈥檚 Advocacy Centers in a Southern State.聽Journal of Child Sexual Abuse.
Nichols, L.M. & Bowen, K.N. (2024). Law enforcement perceptions of job stress and barriers to mental health resources when investigating child sexual abuse.聽Policing: An International聽Journal,聽47(2), pp. 273-284.聽https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-09-2023-0121
Bowen, K.N.,聽Nichols, L.M., Young, B., Nhan, J. (2023). Law Enforcement Perceptions of Time and Resources in Child Abuse Cases: Findings from 15 CACs. (Technical Report) The Children鈥檚 Advocacy Centers of Texas in partnership with Texas Christian University.
Bones, P.D.C. &聽Nichols, L.M. (2023). 鈥淗ate and Race鈥� in Hate Crimes: Typology, Motivations, and Victims, 2nd聽Edition | Carolina AP.
Bowen, K. N. & Nichols, L.M. (2023). Collaborating on child abuse cases: Strategies to maximize relationships between law enforcement.聽Child Welfare 3600. Center for Advanced Studies of Child Welfare.
Nichols, L.M. (2023). 鈥淗e Made Me Do It.鈥� Religion and Maternal Filicide in Texas: A Postmodern Feminist Study. International Journal of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science.聽https://doi.org/10.56734/ijahss.v4n12a1.
Nichols, L.M. (2023). Cancer, Caregiving and Counseling during COVID-19: An autoethnography in nine parts. The Autoethnographer.
https://theautoethnographer.com/cancer-and-caregiving-healthcare-mom/