February New Faculty Spotlight

Hope LaFreniere, Ph.D., earned her doctoral degree in criminology and justice studies, with a specialization in security studies, from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she studied terrorism and research methodologies.

She received her undergraduate degree in mass communications and broadcasting from West Texas A&M University and her master’s degree in global security studies from Angelo State University. Her research focuses on insider threats in the military related to violent extremism, and she has published articles on antisemitism and far-right terrorism. She enjoys teaching about terrorist movements and other illicit networks.

LaFreniere joined The Citadel’s Department of Intelligence and Security Studies because of her interest in teaching analytic techniques and research methods. Her goal is to teach students to become experts in multiple forms of analysis, including social network analysis, narrative methods, and other approaches.

In her spare time, LaFreniere enjoys creating pottery and cooking with her husband.

Mark Newton, Ph.D., comes to The Citadel from East Carolina University. His specialty is science education. His research examines the use of the socio-scientific issues framework for instruction in immersive, place-based learning environments to develop reasoning skills for resolving complex environmental problems.

“Besides pitching for the Yankees, teaching is the only career I have ever been interested in,” said Newton. “I had a series of very influential teachers starting in middle school who inspired me to pursue education as a career.”

Newton said The Citadel’s reputation, combined with the leadership in the Zucker Family School of Education, drew him to the college. “My goals are to help my colleagues continue to grow our teacher education program and develop a science education program that is a regional leader,” he said. “I also plan to continue researching the use of augmented reality in teaching complex issues relevant to cadets, such as sea level rise in Charleston.” Newton is originally from Fredonia, New York, near Buffalo. He played college baseball and was once a competitive bodybuilder.