Dr. Wendy Stickle, Director of the CCJS undergraduate program at Shady Grove, has recently been awarded the prestigious Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) Human Trafficking Fellowship. This fellowship positions Dr. Stickle at the forefront of supporting OVC's anti-trafficking initiatives, focusing on a three-year examination of Youth-Focused Human Trafficking Courts in the U.S. She will explore where and how they operate, with a specific focus on their alignment with the widespread push to decriminalize youth engaging in commercial sex.

With a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2009, Dr. Stickle brings substantial expertise to this initiative. As an educator, she shapes future criminal justice professionals, teaching courses in research methods, criminological theory, juvenile delinquency, and human trafficking. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Stickle actively contributes to anti-trafficking efforts, serving on the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee and the Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission. Notably, she is the first author of "Human Trafficking: A Comprehensive Exploration of Modern-Day Slavery."

The OVC Human Trafficking Fellowship Program, under the U.S. Department of Justice, reaffirms its commitment to improving victim services. Dr. Stickle's fellowship aligns seamlessly with this mission, drawing on her background in program and policy evaluation, juvenile delinquency, and prevention. As she embarks on this research journey, Dr. Stickle's work aims to advance our understanding of Youth-Focused Human Trafficking Courts, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and support victims.