Dr. Mike Vecchio is a Professional Lecturer in the Criminology Program at DePaul University. He received his PhD in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis as well as his BS and MS in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University. His research interests include youth violence and victimization, youth gangs, as well as the causes, consequences, and responses to victimization.
Before coming to DePaul, Dr. Vecchio was an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology at Loyola University Chicago (2014–2021) as well as an Assistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Western Carolina University (2013–2014). He also worked on two National Institute of Justice funded youth violence studies –
the National Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program (2008–2013) as well as A Multi-method, Multi-site Study of Gang Desistance (2011–2013) – and a supporting researcher on an ongoing Office of Minority Health (HHS) project (2017–2021).