Dip.Journ. (Macleay College), Dip.P.R. (Macleay College), B.A. (Macquarie), Grad.Dip.Ed.(Sec), GCRE (ACU), M.Int.Rel. (IL Hons) (Macquarie), Ph.D (CSU) Dr Richards is an interdisciplinary academic with a professional background in international law and political communications, and research expertise in social psychology and criminology. She has recently completed a two-year research fellowship funded by the Office of National Intelligence; and is engaged in continuing research related to national intelligence priorities. A NESA accredited teacher, Peita has taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level since 2013. She has been active in units of criminology, peace and development, Indigenous studies, social psychology, international law, international security, and social research methods. Additionally, she has worked extensively with dedicated First Nations mentoring and tutoring supporting programs across two universities, assisting students in a one-to-one capacity to achieve their own academic and professional goals. Prior to entering education, Peita worked in the United States, where she undertook a variety of roles in political communications. Building upon a professional communications background in Australia, she was able to develop policy analysis and development skills; liaise with stakeholders; and communicate findings to a diverse range of audiences. Peita teaches into both the Bachelor of Criminology and Bachelor of Laws at Charles Sturt University. Dr Peita L. Richards is the recipient of the Office of National Intelligence, National Intelligence Postdoctoral Grant, 2023 (project 202308). Her research focused on extending methods developed in her doctoral research to the national intelligence priority area of “measuring reliable behavioural indicators of multiple social identity features in real world settings”. Peita’s research continues to advance methods of data analysis to develop objective measures of predictive psychological phenomena in an intelligence context. Peita additionally undertakes research related in trajectories to radicalisation and online media influences. She is particularly interested in the potential for harnessing protective factors for at risk youth in relation to engagement with social media and online gaming platforms. Peita has previously undertaken extensive research with government and industry in geo-political contexts, with a focus on the Middle East, Africa, and factors of International Law. She has presented extensively on factors pertaining to Humanitarian Intervention and Peacekeeping; Responsibility to Protect; State Sponsored Extremism and Terrorism; and Insurgency and Non-State Actors. Member, Indigenous Board of Studies, Charles Sturt University Member, Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law Member, Society of Personality and Social Psychologists Member, Society of Australasian Social Psychologists Editorial Board Member: Journal of Global Indigeneity Review Board Member: Society of Personality and Social Psychology Non-Residential Founding Fellow: Global Network on Extremism and Technology, Kings College, London
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Dr Peita Richards
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