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Photograph of Trace Lasley

Trace Lasley Adjunct Professorial Lecturer Justice, Law & Criminology

Contact
Trace Lasley
SPA | Justice, Law & Criminology
Kerwin Hall ST06
Degrees
PhD, University of Kentucky, 2012

Bio
Dr. Trace Lasley is a Professor of Practice in the Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy Program in the School of Public Affairs. He teaches courses on homeland security at the graduate and undergraduate levels and leads SPA’s Professional Development Workshop Series.

He teaches courses on terrorism and homeland security policy including Artificial Intelligence in Homeland Security; Causes of Terrorism and Political Violence; Domestic Terrorism; Terrorism and Transnational Crime; and the Principles of Homeland Security.

He created and runs the SPA Professional Development Workshop Series for students in public service to help with career planning, resumes, interviewing, plain writing, and other skills. He leads multiple extracurricular opportunities supporting student development of advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities, including, the Homeland Security Communications Lab, the Homeland Security Strategy Workshop, and the annual THSP Women in Homeland Security Career Panel.

Dr. Lasley emphasizes practical experience in his courses. Helping to establish the THSP Practicum program, he successfully led projects for the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Pangiam. His courses regularly feature hands-on activities including risk analysis, strategic planning, program development, project management, and executive briefing.

His research focuses on illicit organization behavior including strategy, tactics, recruitment, and funding of violent groups including terrorists, transnational criminals, and insurgents. His research has appeared in Conflict Management and Peace Science, Risk Analysis, and Third World Quarterly. He shares his expertise on homeland security and curriculum development at industry and academic conferences including the Center for Homeland and Defense Security, Federal Academic Alliance, Homeland Security Enterprise Forum, and US Army Antiterrorism Training Seminar.

In the summer of 2024, he will lead the inaugural THSP Summer Seminar Series with a series of talks on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning that include discussions on conceptual foundations, applications, research and analysis, ethics, and the future of emerging technology.

In addition to his teaching appointment, Dr. Lasley is a policy advisor at the US State Department. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky.
See Also
SPA Department of Justice, Law and Criminology
SPA Professional Development Series
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Summer 2024

  • JLC-682 Crime and Conflict Nexus

Fall 2024

  • JLC-682 Crime and Conflict Nexus

  • JLC-695 Terrorism & Homeland Sec Pract: Homeland Sec Human Rgts Invest

Spring 2025

  • JLC-485 Topics in Terrorism: AI and Homeland Security

  • JLC-682 Crime and Conflict Nexus