A team of researchers in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice has received an award for their study exploring impacts of hate crimes and their work to develop strategies that support victims and strengthen community responses through translational research and data analysis. 

Brendan Lantz and the Hate Crime Research and Policy Institute (HCRPI) have received the 2025 Eva Lassman “Take Action Against Hate” Award, presented by Gonzaga University’s Center for the Study of Hate. This honor celebrates Lantz’s leadership and HCRPI’s innovative research and partnerships dedicated to addressing hate crime violence. 

Named for Holocaust survivor and human rights advocate Eva Lassman, the award recognizes HCRPI’s contributions to combating hate through research and action. 

“This is a tremendous honor — not just for me, but for our entire team. Our faculty affiliates, graduate students and undergraduate researchers have poured their time and passion into understanding and addressing hate crimes. This recognition affirms the importance of their work.” 

— Brendan Lantz, HCRPI director and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice

“This is a tremendous honor — not just for me, but for our entire team,” said Lantz, HCRPI director and associate professor of criminology and criminal justice. “Our faculty affiliates, graduate students and undergraduate researchers have poured their time and passion into understanding and addressing hate crimes. This recognition affirms the importance of their work.” 

Under Lantz’s direction, HCRPI brings together leading researchers like associate professors Marin Wenger and Sylwia Piatkowska alongside numerous graduate and undergraduate research assistants, establishing the institute as a national leader in hate crime victimization studies.  

Thomas Blomberg, dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, credited Lantz, Wenger and Piatkowska for work that illuminates crimes that can go underreported.  

“As their work has shown, hate crimes are historically poorly measured and accounted for by law enforcement agencies across the country,” Blomberg said. “Through their research and partnerships with hate crime task forces, Brendan, Marin and Sylwia are bridging the knowledge gap, giving us a more complete picture and helping to inform policy across the country.” 

“Through their research and partnerships with hate crime task forces, Brendan, Marin and Sylwia are bridging the knowledge gap, giving us a more complete picture and helping to inform policy across the country.” 

— Thomas Blomberg, dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Since its establishment in 2019, HCRPI has focused on improving the accuracy of hate crime data in the U.S. The institute oversees the Longitudinal Hate Crime Victimization Survey, the nation’s largest ongoing panel study examining the relationship between bias exposure and mental health outcomes. This work provides critical insights into the effects of hate-motivated violence and informs strategies to support affected individuals and communities 

HCRPI collaborates with various national and statewide hate crime task forces, law enforcement agencies and community organizations to enhance education and address inconsistencies in hate crime reporting. These partnerships have strengthened efforts to develop data-driven approaches. 

“This award is a testament to our team’s dedication,” Lantz said. “Our faculty, graduate and undergraduate researchers are passionate about understanding and addressing hate crimes. This honor fuels our mission to create a more just society.” 

The 2025 Eva Lassman “Take Action Against Hate” Award will be presented at the Human Rights Awards Banquet on Nov. 6, 2025, in Spokane, Washington.  

To learn more about HCRPI’s initiatives, visit criminology.fsu.edu. 

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