research & experience
Employment
2024 - Present - Predoctoral Research Associate | National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, & Education (NCITE) Center | University of Nebraska-Omaha
Education
Otterbein University, 2017 | Bachelor of Arts (2) with Distinction in Sociology (Criminology Concentration) and Psychology
Ohio University, 2019 | Master of Arts in Sociology
Michigan State University, anticipated 2025 | Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice
Memberships & Affiliations
VOX-Pol Network of Excellence - Next Gen Steering Committee, u.s. REPRESENTATIVE
Institute for Research on Male Supremacism (IRMS) - Fellow
RSAC Security Scholar
American Society of Criminology
American Sociological Association
Graduate Women In Science (GWIS)
North Central Sociological Association (NCSA)
Mortar Board Senior Honor Society: Teleiotes Chapter
Alpha Kappa Delta: Beta Chapter - International Sociology Honor Society
Iota Iota Iota - Women’s Studies Honor Society
Awards & Honors
RSAC Security Scholar (2023) - Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice Recipient
VOX-Pol Network of Excellence (2022) Summer School Travel Award
Arthur F. Brandstatter Endowed Scholarship (2021-22) - Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice
Excellence in Research (2019) - Ohio University Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
Outstanding Teaching Award (2019) - Ohio University Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
Phyllis Weygandt-Auerback ‘57 Memorial Award (2017) - Otterbein University
Ventresca Family Endowment for Research & Internship Award (2017) - Otterbein University
Albert Lovejoy Award (2014) - Otterbein University, Dept. of Sociology
Publications
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Helm, B., Holt, T.J., Scrivens, R., Wojciechowski, T.W., & Frank, R. 2024. “Examining the Online Posting Behaviors and Trajectories of Incel Forum Members.” Crime & Delinquency. Online First.
Howard T. Welser, Brenna Helm, and Thomas Vander Ven. 2024. “Swipe for your right to party: Masculinity, social structure, and mediated relations in college drinking patterns.” Sociological Focus. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380237.2023.2227795
Roberta Liggett O’Malley and Brenna Helm. 2022. “The Role of Perceived Injustice and Need for Esteem on Incel Membership Online.” Deviant Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2022.2133650
Brenna Helm, Ryan Scrivens, Thomas J. Holt, Steve M. Chermak, and Richard Frank. 2022. “Examining an Incel Subculture on Reddit.” Journal of Crime and Justice. http://doi.org/10.1080/0735648X.2022.2074867
DeJong, Christina, Karen Holt, Brenna Helm, and Skyler Morgan. 2021. “’A Human Being Like Other Victims’: The Media Framing of Trans Homicide in the United States.” Critical Criminology 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-021-09559-z
Book Chapters
Helm, Brenna, Thomas Vander Ven, and Howard Welser (2020). “Electric Hookups: An analytical review of the literature on the risks related to hookup app use among emerging adults.” Recent Advances in Digital Media Impacts on Identity, Sexuality, and Relationships, edited by M.F. Wright. Hershey, PA:IGI Global.
Research Briefs
Helm, Brenna and Roberta Liggett O’Malley. (2022). The Role of Perceived Injustice and Need for Esteem on Incel Membership Online. Deviant Behavior. Global Network on Extremism and Technology Insights.
Helm, Brenna, Ryan Scrivens, Thomas J. Holt, Steven M. Chermak, and Richard Frank. (2022). Examining Incel Subculture on Reddit. Journal of Crime and Justice. VOX-Pol Network of Excellence.