Dr. Danielle Lessard
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, West Virginia University – Keyser Campus
Dr. Danielle Lessard is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at West Virginia University – Keyser, where she has taught since 2018. With over two decades of combined experience in higher education, juvenile justice, academic advising, and curriculum development, Dr. Lessard is committed to advancing inclusive and applied criminal justice education. She teaches a wide range of courses across WVU’s AA, AAS, and BAS programs, including Criminal Law, Community Corrections, Victimology, and Forensic Techniques, as well as courses she has personally developed, such as Diversity Issues in Law Enforcement and Mental Health in Criminal Justice.
Dr. Lessard’s teaching philosophy emphasizes engaging diverse learners through innovative instruction in both in-person and online formats. She has led efforts in curriculum redesign, accreditation compliance, and assessment, while also mentoring students and faculty. Her practical background includes extensive work as a juvenile probation officer in Texas, serving in Intake, Gang, and Intensive Supervision Units across Harris and Fort Bend Counties. She has also held student support roles in academic advising and success coaching at Lone Star College and North American University.
She holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Online Teaching from Walden University, where her dissertation explored racial disparities in traffic stops across community demographics. Her academic background also includes an M.S. in Juvenile Forensic Psychology from Prairie View A&M University, a B.A.A.S. in Community Service from the University of North Texas, and an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice from Tarrant County College.
In addition to teaching and service, Dr. Lessard is an active scholar. Her recent publications include Determining Racial Equity in Pretrial Risk Assessment in the Federal Probation Journal (Vol. 86, No. 3), and the Pretrial Risk Assessment Validation Report for the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office. Her research aligns closely with her academic focus on systemic equity and evidence-based practices in criminal justice.
Dr. Lessard currently serves on the Affirmative Action Committee for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, is a peer reviewer for the U.S. Office of Justice Programs and sits on the board of the Western Region Youth Centers under the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. She is certified in Mental Health First Aid and holds a Quality Matters Certification in online course design.
Her research and teaching interests include juvenile justice, diversity in law enforcement, mental health within the criminal justice system, and evidence-based community corrections.