Faculty/Staff Information
Omar Melchor-Ayala
He/His/Him
PhD, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Sciences
89219 | ayalao@wou.edu
MA 217
Why I chose WOU
WOU is my second home! This place was perhaps the most influential and transformation institution in my life. I love how genuinely student-centered the faculty and staff are here.At WOU since
05/19/2007Hobbies
Everything that has to do with the outdoors! Especially exploring Oregon.Fun fact
Like many of you, I am a first generation student (and a first generation immigrant)!Hometown
Patzcuaro, Michoacan It is beautiful, look it up!Favorite book/movie
Too many to list! I love documentaries.Office Hours
| Mon | Tues | Weds | Thurs | Fri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11am-3pm | ||||
| Office hours & online appointments available by arrangement. | ||||
Classes Taught
| Course | Title | Location | Days | Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJ 213 | INTRODUCTION CRIMINAL JUSTICE | ONLINE CRS | ------- | - |
| CJ 624 | CJ RESRCH:CONSTRUCT & COMPILE | ONLINE CRS | ------- | - |
| CJ 608 | WORKSHOP | ONLINE CRS | ------- | - |
Areas of responsibility
Practicum Coordinator
CJS Faculty Senate Senator
Education
Omar Melchor-Ayala, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice at Western Oregon University. He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western Oregon University (2006-2009), a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (2009-2011), and a PhD in Sociology from Portland State University (2014-2019). Omar has been teaching at WOU for 6 years, and also taught at PSU for 3 years.
Omar is also currently the Practicum Coordinator for the Criminal Justice Department at WOU, and an academic advisor. Additionally, he is the Faculty Senate representative for the Criminal Justice Sciences division, and the division’s Curriculum Committee Chair. His main research area of interest is the overall immigration-crime nexus. Moreover, Omar worked at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility as an educator and mentor for two years.
Courses previously and regularly taught:
- CJ 213 Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CJ 219 Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice
- CJ 451 Youth, Crime, and Society
- CJ 461 Youth, Immigration, and Crime
- CJ 409 Practicum
- SOC 370 The Sociology of Deviance
BS Western Oregon University: Criminal Justice
MS University of Nevada in Las Vegas: Criminal Justice
PhD Portland State University: Sociology
Professional experience
Awards and honors
Professional memberships
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