Kideste Yusef

About Kideste Yusef

Dr. Kideste Yusef is a tenured Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Associate Dean of Research for the COAH at Bethune-Cookman University, where she also directs The Center for Law and Social Justice. Her career is rooted in advancing research, teaching, and community engagement at the intersections of police-community relations, race and social justice, performance management, and juvenile delinquency prevention. For more than two decades, she has led initiatives that bridge scholarship with practice, partnering with federal agencies, HBCUs, public schools, and community organizations nationwide. In her role as Research Director for the “I Fear for My Life” federal initiative sponsored by the 400 Years of African American History Commission, which spanned 17 states, 15 universities, and multiple police agencies, she established a national dialogue and conducted research centered on mutual fear and trust-building between youth and law enforcement. Dr. Yusef also spearheads large-scale youth diversion and violence prevention programs, such as Hustlepreneur Mentality, a national mentoring and entrepreneurship program developed by Chef Jeff Henderson, and “love is respect”, a student-led program to combat dating violence in partnership with the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Her work has been featured at the White House, the National Press Club, NPR, and in The Miami Herald, The National Desk, Orlando Times, and other news outlets. As a recognized voice in the field, she’s presented to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the Trinidad & Tobago Prison Service, The Washington Post, the Orlando Magic and Jacksonville Jaguars sports organizations, numerous county and city governments, and academic audiences throughout the country. In addition to research and training, she’s serves on nonprofit boards, co-organizes one of the largest HBCU law enforcement career events in the nation, and been honored as an African American Women\'s History Month Project Awardee (2026), Orlando Women of the Year (2024), NBA Orlando Magic Social Justice Game Changer (2021), a Daytona Beach Hometown Hero (2024), and a recipient of the White House Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award (2023) and National Association Blacks in Criminal Justice Presidential Award (2023). At the heart of her work is a commitment to building safer, more just communities by elevating student voices, advancing community-centered research, and fostering respectful dialogue between institutions and the people they serve.

Experience

1. Associate Dean of Research

   Bethune-Cookman University

   Aug 2024 — Present

   I am excited to announce that I will begin a new position in Fall 2024 as the Associate Dean of Research for the College of Arts and Humanities. I will remain the Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice and a tenured Associate Professor in Criminal Justice.

Education

• Old Dominion University

  Master of Arts - MA, Applied Sociology

  2001 — 2003

• Old Dominion University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Criminal Justice/African American Studies

  1997 — 2001

• John Jay College (CUNY)

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Criminal Justice/Law and Policy

  2006 — 2010

• John Jay College (CUNY)

  Master of Science - MS, Criminal Justice

  2006 — 2008