Melissa Hamilton joined the College of Law faculty in 2007. She teaches courses in Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, and Sentencing, among others. She has previously taught courses in criminal justice and sociology departments at several undergraduate institutions. Her research interests focus upon using interdisciplinary approaches to studying domestic violence and sexual assault. Prior to entering law school, Hamilton served as a police officer and a corrections officer.

Hamilton received her J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law, where she served as associate editor of The Texas Law Review, received the distinction as a member of the Chancellors as one of the highest ranked law students, and was accepted into the Order of the Coif. Following law school, she served as a judicial clerk to Judge Sam Johnson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Hamilton then was corporate counsel with an international software and services company. She reentered academia by earning a Ph.D in sociology, with a specialization in criminology/criminal justice, from The University of Texas at Austin, and began teaching in higher education. Her published dissertation is titled “Judicial Discourses involving Domestic Violence and Expert Testimony.”

Hamilton has published, as well has currently under consideration, various articles in law reviews, other legal publications, and interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journals. She is a regular presenter at conferences and serves on academic panels.