COMMITTEES OF HOMICIDE RESEARCH WORKING GROUP

STEERING COMMITTEE

Composition: Includes the Leadership Committee, Immediate Past President, current Editor(s)-in-Chief of Homicide Studies, and all Committee Chairs. Act for the HRWG between meetings; Form policies; Set the financial limit for which the President has decision-making authority; Approve new expenditures that are greater than the President’s decision-making authority; Recommend the creation of ad hoc or special committees; Approve final elections ballots; Approve the selection of editors-in-chief for HRWG publications.

Members 2026-2027:

Publications

Reviews the website and newsletter and provides feedback to the editors or individuals in charge of those activities; Recommends Editorial Board members to Homicide Studies Editor(s)-in-Chief; Oversees the selection process and recommendation to the President for Homicide Studies Editor(s)-in-Chief.

Members 2026-2027:

Programming

Plans and promotes the Annual Conference and mid-year events; Identifies local resources for Annual Conference attendees; Selects one or more local persons or agencies whose work impacts homicide, lethal violence, or survivors for HRWG acknowledgement; Adheres to approved procedures for honorariums and/or donations.

Members 2026-2027:

Nominations & Elections

Seeks qualified candidates for HRWG roles; Ensures candidates are eligible; Prepares the candidate slate; Shares the ballot and supporting information to members two months prior to the Annual Meeting; Manages electronic voting; Tallies the votes and shares the results with candidates two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting and with the full membership at the Annual Meeting.

Members 2026-2027:

Engagement

Manages marketing efforts, social media updates, and member listservs; Ensures HRWG marketing activities do not exceed the annual marketing budget; Addresses members’ interests, engaged in member recruitment activities, and focuses on member retainment.

Members 2026-2027:

Awards

Manages all aspects of the four Award categories: Specifies the award criteria; Ensures the website reflects accurate and current information; Writes the “Call for Nominations” and promotes the Award opportunities through HRWG and members’ professional contacts; Sets the deadline for submissions; Reviews submissions, and determines recipients (if any) for the four award categories.

Members 2026-2027:

COMMITTEES OF HOMICIDE RESEARCH WORKING GROUP

STEERING COMMITTEE

  • Melissa Tetzlaff-Bemiller – President, website Coordinator
  • Amber Scherer – Vice President
  • Wendy Ringgenberg  – Treasurer and Membership Co-Coordinator
  • James McCutcheon – Secretary
  • Kim Davies – Past President
  • Jesenia Pizarro – Editor, Homicide Studies
  • Wendy Ringgenberg – Chair, Nominations and Elections Committee
  • Kayla Toohy – Chair, Annual Program Committee
  • Jesenia Pizarro – Local arrangements
  • Michelle Covington – Marketing Coordinator
  • Vacant – Website Liaison

Annual Meeting Committees

ANNUAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE

  • Kayla Toohy – Chair
  • Bethany Mims-Beliles
  • Jay Corzine
  • Amber Scherer
  • Jesenia Pizarro

LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE

  • Jesenia Pizarro – Chair
  • Jeff Gruenewald

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

  • Michele Covington – Chair
  • Jesy Pizarro

FUTURE SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE

  • Amber Scherer – Chair
  • Dwayne Smith
  • Jay Corzine
  • Kayla Toohy

MID-YEAR VIRTUAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE

  • Kayla Toohy – Chair
  • Lin Huff-Corzine

Engagement Committees

MARKETING COMMITTEE

  • Michelle Covington – Chair 
  • Amber Scherer

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

  • Amber Scherer – Chair
  • Dwayne Smith
  • Mateus Santos
  • Jonathon Reid
  • Raquel Oliveira
  • Millan AbiNader
  • Kayla Toohy
  • Lin Huff-Corzine
  • Jesenia Pizarro
  • Sultan Altikriti

SOCIAL MEDIA COMMITTEE

  • Amaia Iratzoqui – Coordinator
  • Amber Scherer

Membership committees

PRACTITIONERS COMMITTEE

  • Amber Scherer – Chair
  • Richard Hough
  • Kayla Toohy
  • Gráinne Perkins
  • Averi Fegadel
  • Bethany Mims-Beliles
  • James Seward

STUDENT COMMITTEE

  • Leanne O’Neill – Chair
  • Bielle Savage
  • Lee Topolewski

AWARD COMMITTEES

RICHARD BLOCK AWARD COMMITTEE

  • Wendy Ringgenberg – Chair 
  • Richard Block
  • Jay Corzine
  • Gráinne Perkins
  • John K. Cochran
  • Raquel Oliveira
  • Hasin T. Arslan

CAROLYN REBECCA BLOCK AWARD COMMITTEE

  • Amber Scherer – Chair 
  • Becky Block
  • Gráinne Perkins
  • Shila Hawk
  • Wendy Ringgenberg

CHRIS RASCHE AWARD

  • Raquel Oliveira –  Chair
  • Gráinne Perkins
  • John K. Cochran
  • Wendy Ringgenberg

Jarvis, Corzine, Huff-Corzine AWARD COMMITTEE

  • Amber Scherer – Chair 
  • Michelle Covington
  • Kayla Toohy
  • Wendy Ringgenberg

NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

  • Wendy Ringgenberg – Chair 
  • Shila Hawk
  • Lin Huff-Corzine

AD-HOC BYLAWS REVISION COMMITTEE

  • Melissa Bemiller – Chair
  • Amber Scherer
  • Wendy Ringgenberg
  • James McCutcheon
  • Jesenia Pizarro
  • Ellen Cohn
  • Gráinne Perkins