Dr. Meriem Rebbani is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) and an affiliated researcher at Leiden University’s Van Vollenhoven Institute. Her research examines the intersection of national security, law, and society, with particular focus on counterterrorism, countering violent extremism (CVE), and risk governance.
Her forthcoming book, Improvising Quebec’s Countering Violent Extremism Sector (Routledge, 2026), offers the first ethnographic account of Canada’s national security prevention initiatives, based on rare field access to municipal, provincial, federal, and international security agencies.
Alongside her academic work, Dr. Rebbani brings more than a decade of experience as a security and governance practitioner. She has served as a field officer and consultant with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), CIVIPOL, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), as well as advising global institutions including the Global Partnership for Education and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
Her projects have ranged from risk assessment and prison reform to curriculum development and counterterrorism policy advising in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and North America.
Dr. Rebbani is a recipient of the Emerging Thought Leader Award from Women in International Security (WIIS-Canada), recognizing her expertise in bridging academic research with real-world policy and practice.
Her teaching draws from her diverse field experience, blending theory and practice in courses on global security, law and society, terrorism and counterterrorism, and sociolegal studies. She is deeply committed to inclusive mentorship, having worked extensively with students from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education and security professions.
Current Roles & Affiliations
- Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
- Affiliated Researcher, Van Vollenhoven Institute, Leiden University
- Consultant & Advisor to international organizations, law enforcement, and educational institutions
Areas of Expertise
- Counterterrorism & Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)
- National security risk assessment & governance
- International law, policy, and human rights
- Security sector reform & multi-agency cooperation
- Qualitative research & ethnography in high-security contexts
Meriem Rebbani, PhD 