DR. ARYNN A. INFANTE
Arynn A. Infante is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Portland State University. Her research examines how race and ethnicity shape perceptions of threat, punishment preferences, and justice system outcomes in the United States. Using advanced quantitative methods, including structural equation modeling and survey-based research, she focuses on the social and psychological mechanisms linking perceived group threat to punitive attitudes and policies, as well as on efforts to develop and validate constructs that are often difficult to capture empirically. Dr. Infante's work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and Justice Quarterly. She developed the Perceived Latino Threat Scale, a validated measure used to assess multidimensional Latino threat perceptions across economic, political, and criminal domains. In addition to her research, she teaches courses on race, crime, and justice, as well as criminal justice research methods, emphasizing inclusive, research-informed pedagogy and student engagement. Her broader scholarly agenda includes ongoing work on prison social order, correctional climate, and public attitudes toward immigration and punishment.