Presley McGarry

Dr. McGarry is an Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Norwich University, currently in her second year. She teaches courses in professionalism in criminal justice, introductory and advanced research methods, senior seminar, and a Seerist certificate course. Dr. McGarry holds a PhD and Master's in Criminology and Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell, along with a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Dr. McGarry’s research focuses on the bio-social factors underlying antisocial and deviant behavior. Specifically, she explores how psychological and physiological processes—such as autonomic nervous system function—interact to shape emotional regulation, susceptibility to cognitive biases, and stress responses,particularly in the context of misinformation, disinformation, and online radicalization. By examining the mind-body connection through tools like EEG and ECG, Dr.McGarry investigates how these physiological processes might contribute to an individual’s response to social stimuli and risk-taking behaviors. Her work also involves the use of an AI-based Natural Language Processing model to analyze the rhetoric and influence of mis/disinformation online. In addition, Dr. McGarryleads a joint initiative on democratic resilience with Helmuth Schmidt University through Norwich’s Peace and War Center, where she develops research and think pieces on sustaining democratic systems amidst challenges such as misinformation and political polarization.

In her interdisciplinary work, Dr. McGarry has managed several federally funded research projects from agencies like the DOD, ARI, and AFOSR, contributing to the development of new methodologies for understanding the intersections of psychology, physiology, and illicit behavior. She has rebranded and led a university-lab focused on these topics and has published over a dozen articles on issues such as misinformation, radicalism, and military decision-making. Outside of work,Dr. McGarry is a devoted servant to Wednesday, her Siamese cat, and Asparagus, her leopard gecko.

Ph.D. Architectural Theory, Princeton University
M.F.A. Poetry, Drew University
B.F.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, Miami University

CRIM309 Advanced Research Methods

CJ410 Senior Seminar

CJ104 Professionalism in Criminology and Criminal Justice

CJ400 Seerist Certification Course

McGarry, P., Shortland, N., & Bedoya, A. (2025). Angry, anxious, and online: The role of reinforcement sensitivity theory and trait aggression on the impact of exposure to violent extremist content online. Psychology of Violence, 15(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000523

McGarry, P., Shortland, N., Anastasio, N., & Palmieri, M. (2024). The Behavioral Inhibition System and Engagement With, and Influence By, COVID-19 and Election-Based Misinformation. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(1-2), 133-156. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231194638

McGarry, P. (2023). Examining the Intersection of the Psychological and Physiological Aspects of Activism and Radicalism Following Exposure to Misinformation(Publication No. 30632139) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Massachusetts Lowell]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.