M.A.S.S. Student Melanie Hart Publishes Her Research

September 5, 2013

Melanie Hart, a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Social Science program
with an emphasis on Criminal Justice and Criminology, has published her research on musical preferences and novel drug experimentation in the American Journal of Criminal Justice. Working with Drs. Laura Agnich, Bryan Miller, and John Stogner, this research
found that preferences for rap/hip-hop and rock music are associated with an increased likelihood of experimentation with the drug, “purple drank,” (a drink mixture containing codeine cough syrup) among college students. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from Georgia Southern University, and her research interests include novel drug use, school violence, and threat assessment. She has previously participated in the Undergraduate Research Program at Virginia Tech researching the Actively Caring for People program for the prevention of school violence, and is currently working with Dr. Laura Agnich studying school shootings.