Lexington, Ky. (July 7, 2026) — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is pleased to welcome Thomas Mowen, Ph.D., as an associate professor bringing nationally recognized expertise in criminology, youth development, community safety and criminal justice policy to the College’s growing criminal justice programs.
Mowen joins UK from Bowling Green State University, where he built a distinguished record of scholarship examining how schools, communities and justice systems influence the lives of children, families and vulnerable populations. His research has explored topics including school discipline, juvenile justice, victimization, substance use, community safety and the long-term effects of punishment and social control on life outcomes.
“I’m excited to join a College that values interdisciplinary collaboration and community impact,” Mowen said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been interested in connecting research to real-world challenges and helping communities identify practical solutions that improve lives.”
Mowen’s path to academia began in Kentucky. After initially leaving college, he returned to higher education at the University of Louisville just before turning 21. There, he discovered a passion for understanding family functioning, child wellbeing and criminal justice—interests that would shape the course of his career. He later earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Louisville before completing a Ph.D. in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware, with concentrations in criminology and research methods.
“Mowen’s scholarship examines issues that are highly relevant to the students we serve and the communities we work with. His expertise in juvenile justice, school safety and community wellbeing will strengthen our criminal justice programs and create new opportunities for student engagement in research and applied practice.”
As a scholar, Mowen is widely recognized for research examining how formal systems—including school suspension, arrest and incarceration—shape youth development, family functioning, crime, victimization and substance use across the life course. His work frequently bridges disciplines and has involved collaborations with organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Southern Poverty Law Center and multiple local, state and federal agencies.
Among his applied policy contributions, Mowen authored a white paper for the National Institute of Justice examining unintended consequences of school safety practices, contributed to a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief related to school discipline and worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on initiatives involving the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
His commitment to community-engaged scholarship extends beyond the classroom and research lab. As a board member for the Brown Bag Food Project, a nonprofit food pantry in Ohio, Mowen has helped support efforts to increase food access for local families. His research examining the relationship between food insecurity and crime helped support community grant funding and innovative partnerships designed to strengthen long-term food security.
At UK, Mowen looks forward to continuing research that examines how systems, policies and communities can work together to improve outcomes for children and families while preparing the next generation of criminal justice professionals.
His teaching experience spans a wide range of subjects, including criminology, policing, deviance and social control, criminal justice and mental health, inequality in the criminal justice system and research methods. He is particularly passionate about helping students understand how research can inform policy and practice.
“Higher education in Kentucky was transformative for me,” Mowen said. “I’m excited to return home to the Commonwealth and help students who want to make a difference in their communities, too.”
Outside of work, Mowen enjoys motorcycling, dirt biking, and off-roading. He is also an identical twin married to an identical twin.