Meet the HRWG Officers
President
Amber Scherer, PhD
Dr. Amber Scherer has been an active member of the HRWG since 2008, serving in all of the officer positions and now as the President. She is the 2019 recipient of the Carolyn Rebecca Block Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Practitioner to increased understanding of homicide or lethal violence. Amber earned her PhD in Criminology, Law, and Society from George Mason University. Her research interests include violent crime investigations and innovative, firearms violence prevention, multi-disciplinary collaborations and strategies.
Currently, Dr. Scherer is a Crime Gun Intelligence Specialist in the research program at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Excellence (NGICex) which is dedicated to the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based crime gun intelligence research.
Vice President
Bethany Mims Beliles, Ph.D
Dr. Bethany Mims Beliles is a behavioral scientist, educator, statistician, and organizational strategist who specializes in bridging psychological/criminological theory with practical application in high-stakes environments. She currently serves as a civilian professional with the United States Marine Corps (USMC), where she leverages her expertise in human behavior, motivation, statistical analysis, and systems design to support military operations and mission readiness. Dr. Beliles holds a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a Master of Science from Florida State University, as well as a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University.
In academia, Dr. Beliles is a dedicated educator and researcher. She serves as a faculty member and is a highly active Dissertation Chair for the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology program within Liberty University’s School of Behavioral Sciences. Her research and mentorship span a wide range of applied psychological disciplines, including trauma-informed practices for first responders, psychological safety in the workplace, military mindset and motivation, and life-course criminology.
secretary
Kendall Morris , Ph.D.
Dr. Kendall Morris is currently an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University in the School of Social Work. She obtained her PhD from Boston University in 2022. Her research focuses on the effects of trauma and community violence, especially homicide, on the mental health of Black families and communities, as well as the mental health services and resources they utilize in response to traumatic loss and violent events.
Dr. Morris seeks to understand the individual, family, community, and systemic factors that contribute to higher homicide rates in Black communities and the bereavement and mental health issues that Black families and communities experience after a homicide and how surviving families and communities cope with traumatic loss. Her work can be found in journals such as Homicide Studies and Health and Social Work. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband, Jeffrey, her three-year-old son, Jeffrey Michael, and their dog Nala.
Treasurer
Wendy Ringgenberg, Ph.D.
Wendy Ringgenberg holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Master’s degrees in Public Health, Occupational Health (Ag Safety), and Criminal Justice. She works as a Justice Systems Analyst with the State of Iowa in the Statistical Analysis Center (a designation from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics). She is a social worker, nursing home administrator, and industrial hygienist. Wendy’s recent work experience includes Abstractor with the Iowa Violent Death Reporting System, Clerk for the Iowa Child Death Review Team, and Director of the Des Moines University’s Master of Public Health Program. Her research interest is family-related homicide and occupational homicide, as well as program evaluation of criminal justice and social service programs.
Wendy lives in Iowa with her husband of 35 years, Ray, who is a competitive BBQ chef (Smokehouse 72) as well as a designer for Iowa Department of Transportation. They have three grown married children and seven grandkids. Wendy and Ray are active volunteers with the English Springer Rescue America and have two springers of their own.