Dr. Christine Rasche - University of North Florida

Dr. Christine Rasche arrived at University of North Florida in 1972, after being recruited by J. Carroll Sims in April of that year. Due to her gender, Dr. Rasche was denied access to male prisons during her Ph.D. research at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She quickly pivoted to focus her career on incarcerated women, making her one of the field’s early trailblazers. Integral to UNF’s growth and development until her retirement in 2008. Dr. Rasche helped build and support some of its features, such as the Criminal Justice Program and the Women’s Center.

When she wasn’t occupied with UNF projects, Dr. Rasche worked to address the unique needs of female offenders through an impressive list of publications that included academic articles and training curriculums for correctional departments in various states. She also helped found the domestic violence center, Hubbard House, in 1977 and maintained seats on committees such as the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. and the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on the Status of Women. Using her academic research, Dr. Rasche sought to aid UNF and the local Jacksonville community, often succeeding in her efforts.