Michael Reisig (’92, ’96), professor of criminology and criminal justice, has received a 2025 Alumni Achievement Award from the Washington State University Alumni Association (WSUAA). Reisig is a professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University and has served as a mentor and leader to numerous graduates in the law enforcement field.
Reisig is an American Society of Criminology Fellow whose work focuses on the nature and influence of social control and crime causation theories. His scholarly work has been cited over 14,000 times by scholars in more than 30 countries. Reisig earned his MA in criminal justice and his PhD in political science from Washington State University. Since then, he has held positions in criminology programs at Florida State University, Michigan State University, and Arizona State University.
“While Dr. Reisig is a widely recognized scholar, his core identification is with service to the community,” said Nicolas Lovrich, WSU Regents Professor Emeritus of political science who nominated Reisig for the honor. “In his teaching and in his research, his goal is to impart a deep sense of respect for the noble professions of first-responders — those people who run towards danger to protect the rest of us.”
In his teaching and in his research, his goal is to impart a deep sense of respect for the noble professions of first-responders — those people who run towards danger to protect the rest of us.
Nicolas Lovrich, Regents Professor Emeritus
Washington State University
While working towards his doctorate at WSU, Reisig helped organize the WSU Criminal Justice Undergraduate Club, assisting many WSU students as they navigated their studies and found careers in law enforcement and legal studies. One particular project was the implementation of Enhanced 911 emergency service in Whitman County. Reisig helped recruit and train a large team of WSU undergraduates to assist various agencies, including the Pullman Police Department and WSU Campus Police.
“He created a strong bond between the undergraduate criminal justice program and the graduate studies program,” said Lovrich. “Each year, undergraduate students become directly involved in evaluation research and internships that give them a distinct advantage towards careers in law enforcement and legal policy.”
In 2016, Reisig received the Outstanding Graduate Alumni Scholar Award from WSU’s Criminal Justice and Criminology Department, and in 2022 received the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award from the Arizona State University Faculty Women’s Association.
Reisig joins several other Cougars who have been recognized this year with the Alumni Association’s highest honor, including Michael Bair, Varinder Bhalla, Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell, Loren Koller, Gina Meyers, Linda Pillo, Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, Dan Castles, and Gary Steele.
The WSUAA Alumni Achievement Award was created in 1970 by the WSUAA Board of Directors “to recognize and honor alumni who have given outstanding service… and provide encouragement to alumni for perpetual service to Washington State University.” The award is the highest honor bestowed by the WSU Alumni Association. Out of the estimated 250,000 people who have attended WSU since its founding in 1890, just over 550 alumni have received the award.
