- Dr. Sandra Pavelka, Ph.D., is a Professor and the Founding Director of the Institute for Youth and Justice Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. She previously served as Project Administrator for the Balanced and Restorative Justice Project, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, and Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Youth Policy at the Shepard Broad Law Center, Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Pavelka earned her Ph.D. in Public Administration with a specialization in Justice Policy from Florida Atlantic University. Her dissertation, Practice to Policy to Management: A Restorative Justice Framework, focused on legal system reform and policy implementation nationally. She also holds a Master of Public Administration from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida.
Dr. Pavelka is the recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including the Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation from the U.S. Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, the National Points of Light Award, and the 2024 Women in Business APEX Award from the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. She has also been recognized with the Leadership and Service Award by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the McTarnaghan Teaching Award at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Dr. Pavelka serves on the U.S. Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus Advisory Committee, the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Law and Policy Committee (former chair) and is a member of the European Forum on Restorative Justice Working Group on Law. Dr. Pavelka is a frequent speaker and author, with numerous publications, books, book chapters, and conference presentations, including her recent book, Restorative Justice in Legal Systems, Education and Community: Reflections on What Works, Where We Can Grow and What’s Next, co-edited by Anne Seymour and published by JKP Publishing (2024). Her upcoming book, The Power of Her: Women Shaping Politics and Society, co-authored with Hannah Reynolds, J.D., is scheduled for publication by Kendall Hunt in Spring 2026.
In addition to her academic and policy work, she is an internationally recognized expert in restorative justice, youth policy, politics, and justice reform. Dr. Pavelka is a Political and Justice Analyst with television, print and web media across national, state, and local platforms. She co-chairs the Girls Coordinating Council of Southwest Florida and is actively engaged in community service through organizations such as the PACE Center for Girls, the Circuit 20 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida.
