Gabriella Leverence, M.S.

Gabriella Leverence, M.S., is a Lecturer in the Departments of Psychology and Criminal Justice at Kean University. She specializes in forensic psychology with a primary focus on mass violence, including mass shootings, hate crimes, and domestic terrorism.

Prior to her academic career, Gabriella worked as an investigator, where she handled complex cases requiring analytical judgment and attention to detail. She also served as Senior Vice President and Director of Academic and Career Programs for a national military nonprofit organization, where she supported service members and veterans in career development and educational advancement.

Her professional background informs her teaching, which emphasizes applied, real-world analysis, critical thinking, and career readiness. She is also the author of the textbook Mass Violence in Modern Society, which provides an interdisciplinary and evidence-based approach to understanding and preventing large-scale acts of violence. Her work integrates perspectives from psychology, criminology, and homeland security to better understand patterns, causes, and policy responses to mass violence.