Rate My Professor Katherine Young

Katherine Young is Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Administration of Justice in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. She earned a B.A. in 1997 and an M.A. in 2000 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a Ph.D. in 2008 from Colorado State University. Young has built a distinguished career at UH Hilo, where she was promoted to Associate Professor of Political Science in 2016 following tenure. In 2023, she took on the role of Chair of the Administration of Justice department, leading its growth as the only standalone B.A. program in administration of justice in Hawaiʻi. The program studies how justice is implemented through institutions, laws, policies, and procedures, focusing on crime and justice in U.S. and global contexts. It prepares students as innovative leaders in law enforcement, criminal justice, government and non-profit administration, and justice advocacy, qualifying them for graduate programs and law schools while supporting community-engaged scholarship.

Young's research interests include animal rights, environmental political theory, and critical theory. She teaches courses such as Justice, Power, and Democracy; Feminism and Justice; Justice and the Environment; Animal Cruelty; Capitalism & Economic Justice; and Fascism and Authoritarianism. Emphasizing student engagement, she prioritizes in-class activities to explore concepts. Under her leadership, the department offers the Criminal Justice Certificate and the Administration of Justice Law Enforcement Cohort Program, partnering with the Hawaiʻi Police Department to enable officers to pursue degrees online. Young has contributed to the profession by chairing award committees for American Political Science Association organized sections. Her work fosters hands-on experiences through internships in agencies and legislative roles, enhancing graduates' career prospects in the field.