Lilly Wuertz is a Master’s student in the Department of Criminology. She earned her B.S. in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Criminal Justice from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in May, 2026. During her undergraduate degree, she gained practical experience as an intern for the Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crime Suppression Division. In this role she witnessed the dynamics of the victim-offender overlap, inspiring her to pursue higher education to conduct research on the psychological mechanisms underlying the victim-offender overlap and contribute to evidence-based solutions for intervention. She also served on the executive board for George Washington’s Criminal Justice Student Association, inviting speakers from local non-profits and government organizations to speak to students about volunteer and career opportunities in the criminal justice system. By bridging psychology and criminal justice, she hopes to contribute to a more preventative and well-informed approach to public safety.