Jill Sturges

CURRICULUM VITAE

Jill Sturges holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Arts degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from West Virginia University. Currently, Jill is a doctoral candidate in the Sociology program at West Virginia University. Moreover, she works as an Instructor of Record, teaching numerous courses in criminology and sociology, such as Introduction to Criminology, Introduction to Sociology, Women in Criminal Justice, The Juvenile Justice System, Juvenile Delinquency, Criminal Justice in the Community, Race and Ethnicity, Sociology of the Family, and Social Problems.

Her research interests encompass several broad areas. One primary focus is evaluating the accuracy of abortion information shared by TikTok users before and after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She successfully defended her master's thesis titled "Love, Life, and Controversial Topics: A Content Analysis of the Top Liked Abortion TikTok Videos Before and After the Overturning of Roe v. Wade."

In addition, Jill has dedicated considerable time to researching violence against women. She has published two solo book reviews on this subject. Her first review, titled "What It Feels Like: Visceral Rhetoric and the Politics of Rape Culture” by Stephanie R. Larson, was published in Sage Journals. She also authored a review of “Women Abuse in Rural Places” by Walter DeKeseredy, published in Critical Criminology.

Jill has successfully defended her dissertation prospectus and is now a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Her dissertation will examine the multidimensional symbiotic harms that housed family members may experience in relation to an unhoused loved one. 

In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her two children and attending local arts and crafts festivals. She also enjoys traveling to explore new areas—particularly locations with sunny, sandy beaches.