Brandi Thomas, PHD

Dr. Brandi Thomas is the Criminal Justice Program Director and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College. She holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Walden University and brings more than two decades of experience in higher education, curriculum development, program assessment, student mentoring, and community engagement.

Dr. Thomas teaches courses in criminal justice, courts, policing, and criminal investigations. Her research and scholarly interests include policing, generational differences in the criminal justice workforce, open educational resources, contract grading, silent mentoring, and innovative teaching practices in criminal justice education. Her recent scholarship examines how generational diversity fosters informal learning and mentoring within college classrooms.

In addition to her teaching and research, Dr. Thomas has extensive experience in academic leadership, grant development, program review, curriculum design, and student retention initiatives. She is an active member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and serves as a peer reviewer for MERLOT.

Ph.D. : Walden University 2021 (Criminal Justice)

MS: Eastern Kentucky University 2001 (Criminal Justice)

BA: Lindsey Wilson College 1999 (Criminal Justice)

Research and practice interests focus on policing, courts, criminal justice education, and student success. Dr. Thomas's current scholarship examines generational diversity and silent mentoring in the classroom, open educational resources, contract grading, experiential learning, and innovative approaches to teaching criminal justice. She is also interested in curriculum development, program assessment, workforce preparation, community engagement, and strategies that strengthen student access, persistence, and career readiness.

08-15-2025 - Assistant Professor and CJ Program Director, University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College,

01-10-2023 -07-30-2025 Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Central State University,

10-01-2003 -07-30-2019 Professor and CJ Program Coordinator, Somerset Community College,

Academic - University of Cincinnati- Blue Ash College
9555 Plainfield Road
Blue Ash  Ohio, 45236
Phone: 5135589448
thoma4bi@ucmail.uc.edu