Michelle L. Malkin, JD, PhD, directs the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative (GRPI) at East Carolina University, where she is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Her research examines the impacts of gambling on individuals, families, and communities, with a focus on behavioral risk and harm in under-studied populations. Her work bridges research, policy, and practice to inform evidence-based prevention and intervention efforts. She has developed empirically validated tools, including screening and education resources licensed to her through Gamblytics, and has received national and university recognition for research, innovation, and community engagement.