Katie Lehn

Assistant in Research Faculty - Florida Institute for Child Welfare
Headshot photo of Katie Lehn

Contact Information

kr18bt@fsu.edu

Katie (Rankin) Lehn is an assistant in research with the Translational Research team at the Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW) and a research faculty member with the College of Social Work. She is passionate about translational research—bridging the gap between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. To achieve this, Katie believes in directly engaging community stakeholders to address their needs through data-driven solutions and evidence-based practices.

Prior to graduate school, Dr. Lehn worked as a juvenile corrections officer, an experience that sparked her interest in crossover youth and populations living in confined residential settings. These experiences continue to inform her research and commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable youth and families.

Areas of Focus

  • Child welfare
  • Juvenile justice
  • Crossover youth
  • Corrections

Education

  • PhD, 2025, University of Cincinnati, Criminal Justice
  • MS, 2018, American University, Justice, Law, and Criminology
  • BS, 2016, University of Cincinnati, Criminal Justice

Selected Peer Review Publications 

  • Rankin, K.E.. The procedures of punishment: State similarities and differences in the handling of prison rule violators. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice.
  • Rankin, K.E. & Pompoco, A. (2025). "Grounds for a Ride Out”: Understanding the role housing challenges play in prison rule violations. American Journal of Criminal Justice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-025-09866-z
  • Rankin, K. E., & Cochran, J. C. (2025). Correctional officer stress and prison management: Does stress alter rule enforcement modus operandi? Corrections, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/23774657.2025.2454020
  • Rankin, K., & Cordero-Treston, K. (2023). A test of job demands-resources theory: Organizational citizenship behavior in a carceral setting. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 51(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241227550

Selected Grants

  • American Society of Criminology, Division of Corrections and Sentencing, Pamela K Lattimore and RTI International Dissertation Award, 2024
  • Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice (ADPCCJ) Student Research Award, 2024
  • National Science Foundation, Law and Science Dissertation Grant, 2024

 

Katie Lehn