LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 14, 2026) — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) has announced Amanda Farrell, Ph.D., will join the College as a senior lecturer, bringing extensive international experience in policing, criminal investigations and forensic science to the growing criminal justice program.
Originally from Virginia, Farrell joins UK after spending the past five years as a senior lecturer of policing at Liverpool John Moores University in England, where she led one of the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies’ largest undergraduate programs in forensics, policing and investigations while teaching across undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs.
“Dr. Farrell brings an exceptional combination of academic leadership and hands-on experience in criminal investigations,” Jackie Duron, Ph.D., associate dean for faculty advancement, said. “Her work with law enforcement agencies, commitment to practitioner-informed research and global perspective will provide invaluable learning opportunities for our students while strengthening our criminal justice program.”
Farrell’s professional experience spans nearly every facet of the criminal justice system. Growing up in a family of first responders sparked an early interest in policing, which led to internships with the Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom and a police department in Virginia, where she worked alongside detectives and forensic investigators for more than six years.
Throughout her career, she has consulted on homicide investigations, assisted with police academy and in-service training, presented to the FBI National Academy on practitioner-research partnerships and served as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) research fellow assigned to the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Units within the Critical Incident Response Group.
Her work has also supported several U.S. Department of Justice initiatives, including serving as a consultant and technical writer for the national Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner and Coroners Offices.
Farrell’s research focuses on homicide, criminal investigations, field forensics, policing and the effects of stress, trauma and resilience among first responders and forensic professionals. More recently, she served as research lead for Winter Storm, a multidisciplinary initiative examining emergency response preparedness for extreme weather events across the United Kingdom.
She earned a Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice from Old Dominion University, a Master of Science in investigative psychology from the University of Liverpool and a Master of Arts in criminal justice and criminology from Sam Houston State University. She also graduated summa cum laude from Marymount University with bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and sociology.
In addition to her teaching and research, Farrell has completed specialized training in crisis intervention, peer support, critical incident stress management and trauma-informed response, further informing her work with law enforcement and first responder communities.
“I am excited to join the UK College of Social Work and contribute to a program that values both academic excellence and practical experience,” Farrell said. “I look forward to working with students as they prepare for careers in criminal justice and helping them connect classroom learning with professional practice.”
Outside of work, Farrell is a dog lover who rescued her first dog at age 13. She also enjoys traveling and shares a stargazing tour atop Mount Teide in Tenerife, Spain, where she could see the Milky Way with the naked eye, among her favorite travel experiences. She looks forward to becoming part of the Lexington community and getting to know her colleagues and students at UK.