Meet Kathryn A. Branch
Assistant Dean, Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education/Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Preferred Pronouns: she/her
Phone: (813) 257-1705
Email: kbranch@ut.edu
Address: 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606
Mailbox: Q
Building:
PH
Room: 402
Education
1998 University of South Florida, B.A.
1999 University of South Florida, M.A.
2005 University of South Florida, Ph.D.
Courses Taught
Victimology
Juvenile Delinquency
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Career Specialties
Kathryn Branch's research interests include violence against women, the impact of victimization on social support providers, the use of yoga and mindfulness practices to cope with trauma post-crime victimization and the intersection of gender and crime. She is especially interested in how sexual violence affects college populations and campus communities. Her research is featured in Feminist Criminology, The Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Violence and Victims, and Violence Against Women.
Professional and Community Activities
Branch is a HERS Leadership Institute Boston 2022 alumna. She is an active member of the academic community at UT. She serves as a divisional senior leader for the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education (CSSME) on the Spartan Inclusion Team and chairs the college-level DEI committee.
She is involved in campus initiatives to raise awareness about dating violence and sexual assault including R.A.I.V.E.N. (Reducing Assault and Interpersonal Violence Educational Network) and the Spartan Support Team. Nationally, she is a member of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) and the American Conference of Academic Deans (ACAD).
Branch is also dedicated to serving the community. She is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher with a focus on trauma-informed yoga. She volunteers as a yoga teacher for Team Red, White and Blue, a leading health and wellness community for veterans. She recently completed the Tampa Community Emergency Response Team training and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office citizens academy. In 2016, she was selected by Bay News 9 as an Everyday Hero for her work with the Girls on the Run of Greater Tampa Bay. Branch has participated in numerous community events to raise awareness about sexual violence including Take Back the Night and Operation Freefall (skydiving event): the two-mile high stand against sexual assault.
Honors and Awards
2023 J. Richard Piper Outstanding Service Award
2020 Distinguished Alumni Award, Wall of Fame: University of South Florida Department of Criminology
2014 Joyce Keller Faculty/Staff Volunteer of the Year
2012 Outstanding Criminology Ambassador, University of South Florida Department of Criminology
2012 Outstanding Student Involvement, CSSME