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Laura Mishne Heller currently serves as a faculty lecturer for the Department of Criminal Justice and Security Studies at the University of Dayton. She earned her B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies and Sociology from The Ohio State University and earned her Master of Social Service (MSW equivalent) and Master of Law and Social Policy from Bryn Mawr College (Pennsylvania). Laura is currently working toward her Ph.D. in criminal justice where her strengths-based research focuses on improving health literacy within correctional settings. Other research areas of interest include epidemiological criminology, health policy, community research and development, street participatory action research (street PAR), penal abolition and experiential learning, community engagement and service-learning in higher education.

Formerly, Laura was a medical social worker at a critical access hospital in rural northwest Minnesota, working the Emergency Department, Clinics, Medical, Surgical, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Intensive Care Unit. During that time, she served as a field instructor for the Department of Social Work at the University of North Dakota, hosting undergraduate and master-level social work interns. She has also served as an adjunct instructor for the Department of Social Work at the University of North Dakota and Ohio University.

Away from the academic world, she is a fitness enthusiast, serving as a fitness trainer at two different fitness studios. She is married to her husband, Benjamin (who also works at UD) and is a proud mom to her son, Josh.

Research interests

• Epidemiological criminology
• Health policy
• Community research and development
• Street Participatory Action Research (street PAR)
• Experiential learning, community engagement and service-learning in higher education
• Penal abolition
• The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program

Courses taught

• CJS 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies
• SSC 200: Connecting the Criminal Justice System to Public Health

Selected publications

Mishne, L., Warner, E., Willis, B. & Shomaker, R. 2012. “Breaking Down Barriers: Student Experiences of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program.” Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Civic Engagement, Volume 1; Heller, L.M. 2019. Employment During the Doctoral Journey: Some Words of Encouragement and Advice. The Criminologist, 44(2): 44-46.

Selected presentations

Nwachuku, B., & Heller, L.M. 2021, April. Social Justice and Anti-Racism in Social Work Pedagogy: A Call to Action for Social Work Educators. Social Work Distance Education Virtual Conference (virtual via Our Lady of the Lake University Worden School of Social Service, San Antonio, Texas).

Nwachuku, B., & Heller, L.M. 2021, February. Social Justice and Anti-Racism in Social Work Pedagogy: A Call to Action for Social Work Educators. Northwest Regional Equity Conference for Higher Education (virtual via Clark College, Vancouver, Wash.).

Bryant, A.N., & Heller, L.M. 2019, November. Mobilizing Parole Abolition and Decarceration Strategies Inside the Walls. The annual meetings of the American Society of Criminology, San Francisco.

Heller, L.M., & Carter, T. 2019, October. Zero Suicide: Strengths and Challenges of Program Implementation at a Critical Access Hospital. The annual meetings of the National Association of Social Work – North Dakota Chapter, Mandan, N.D.

Heller, L.M., Waldal, A., Lundeen, J., & Klawitter, S. 2019, September. ‘I’m being admitted as what status?’: A community conversation on inpatient versus outpatient services. RiverView Health, Crookston, Minn.

Green, T., Vasquez, L., & Heller, L.M. 2017, October. Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program: Alumni Panel. The 20th Inside-Out Anniversary and Commemoration Conference, Philadelphia.

Mishne, L., Gosset, J., Rannebarger, S. 2014, April. Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program: Panel Discussion. The annual meetings of the North Central Sociological Association, Cincinnati.

Mishne, L. 2014, April. Emergency Medical Assistance and Undocumented Individuals: A Medical Social Work Analysis. Bryn Mawr College 8th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Harvey, A. and Mishne, L. 2012, August. Shaping Perceptions: Undergraduate Views of Prison Life, Operations and Functions from the Inside-Out. The annual meetings of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Denver.