Abigail Kolb

Associate Professor
Department of Civic Engagement and Public Service University College

678-839-6326
akolb@wSlukrXCJQPxcNGMuJiWestga.edu

Pafford Social Science Building - Room 238

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Abigail Kolb

I hold a joint appointment in the Department of Civic Engagement and Public Service (Criminology program) and the Department of Prison Education. My multidisciplinary research examines the intersection of race, class, and gender inequalities within the criminal justice system. Specifically, my work focuses on the unique challenges faced by women and men of color in correctional settings, their embodied experiences within carceral environments, and the individual and collective forms of agency they exercise.

In addition, I have over a decade of experience as a clinical and forensic social worker, working with diverse populations—primarily individuals convicted of sexual offenses—and conducting research on sex offender treatment.

Beyond my research, I serve as Senior Site Director and Associate Professor for the University of West Georgia’s Prison Education Program at Hays State Prison (Level V; maximum security) and Federal Correctional Institution - Atlanta where I also teach courses. The university implemented a four-year Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program at these facilities in Fall 2023 and Spring 2025, respectively. 

My teaching philosophy centers on helping students critically examine how power influences the creation and dissemination of knowledge. I encourage active democratic engagement and the interrogation of both traditional and nontraditional sources of knowledge to reveal how ideas evolve within broader social, political, and economic contexts. Through this process, students develop the ability to think critically, construct evidence-based arguments, and articulate their ideas effectively in writing and discussion. I view teaching as a collaborative process in which open dialogue and mentorship beyond the classroom are essential to fostering intellectual growth and preparing students for academic and professional success.

In my courses, I strive to create an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that embraces cultural, academic, and experiential diversity. Drawing on my background as a forensic therapist, I integrate theory with real-world applications, using case studies, art, music, and technology to engage different learning styles. Whether teaching courses such as Race and Crime or graduate seminars, I emphasize intersectional and critical perspectives to broaden students’ understanding of justice and inequality. Ultimately, I see education as a means of advancing social justice—bridging theory and practice to inspire students to become informed, compassionate agents of change within their communities.

 

  • B.S., Bachelor of Social Work, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2005
  • M.S., Master of Science - Clinical Social Work, Columbia University, 2006
  • PhD, Doctor of Philosophy - Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 2015

Spring 2026 Sections

  • CRIM-4295 (Sex Offenders) Section: E01 Syllabus Not Available

Fall 2025 Sections

Summer 2025 Sections

Spring 2025 Sections

Fall 2024 Sections

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Spring 2024 Sections

Fall 2023 Sections

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Spring 2023 Sections

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Fall 2021 Sections

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Fall 2020 Sections

Kolb, A.F. (2024). Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Sex Offenders: A Treatment Guide.Taylor & Francis: London, UK. ISBN: 978-1032586960 [View Publication External Resource]

Schweighoffer, A., Piche, L., & Kolb, A. (Forthcoming, 2024). Assessing child sexual exploitation material offenders. In L.A Craig, L. Dixon, & T.A. Gannon (Eds.). The Wiley Handbook of What Works in Offender Rehabilitation: An Evidence-Based Approach to T

Kolb, A. (224). Two steps forward, one step back: An overview of inequality in the criminal (in)justice system from 1704 to the present. In P. Pitman-Brown, & T. Parsons (Eds.). Introduction to Social Justice.

Christopher, Kelley; Kolb, Abigail; and Parsons, Tiffany A. (2022) [View Publication External Resource]

Kolb, A. (2021). “Just Listen, People!”: Narrative as Resistance in Criminological Research. In J.A. Schlosser (Ed.) Prison Stories: Women Scholars’ Experiences Doing Research Behind Bars (pp. 67-84). Lanham, MD: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing G

Kolb, A., Palys, T., & Green, A. (2019). “When You’re Out, You’re Not Really Out”: Exiting Strategies among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas. The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology, 11(2), Article 4. [View Publication External Resource]

Kolb, A. & Palys, T. (2018). Playing the part: Pseudo-families, wives, and the politics of relationships in women’s prisons in California. The Prison Journal, 98(6), 678-699. doi: 10.1177/0328855. [View Publication (PDF)]

Kolb, A. & Palys, T. (2016). Homegirls, Hoodrats and Hos: Co-constructing gang status through discourseand performance. International Journal for Crime, Justice, and Social Democracy, 5(4): 29-44. doi:10.5204/ijcjsd.v5i4.334. [View Publication External Resource]

Kolb, A. & Palys, T. (2012). Are you Down?: Power relations and gender reconstruction among Latina gang members in Los Angeles. Journal of Gang Research, 20(1): 19-32.

Race, class, and gender inequality in the criminal justice system

Qualitative research; sex offender treatment; race, class, gender, and crime; criminal justice system