USC.edu

Thomas Ward

Associate Professor (Teaching) of Anthropology
Thomas Ward
Pronouns He / Him / His Email tww@usc.edu Office GFS 120 Office Phone (626) 818-8761

Research & Practice Areas

Street gangs, transnational gangs, Tibetan Bön Buddhism.

Education

  • Ph.D. Anthropology (Psycho-cultural Studies), University of California – Los Angeles, 1987
    • Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Medical Anthropology, University of California, San Francisco , 1987-1988

  • Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments

    • Associate Professor (Teaching) , University of Southern California, 2013-2014

    Other Employment

    • Court Certified Expert Witness on Gangs, Criminal & Immigration Courts, US, 09/16/1999

  • Summary Statement of Research Interests

    Street gangs, with a particular focus on Central American immigrant youth, conducted research since 1993. Also interested in Tibetan Bön Buddhism and Dzögchen (meditation), conducted research since 1995. Participated in a dark retreat (50 days) in June-July, 2009. Taught meditation class at a gang prevention/intervention program in Pico-Union district (Summer, 2013).

    Research Keywords

    Street Gangs, Urban Youth Gangs, Transnational Gangs, Central American Gangs, MS-13 Gang, Mara 18, Tibetan Buddhism, Bön, Dzögchen, meditation.

  • Conference Presentations

    • Mitigating Gang Cases , CACJ/CPDA Capital Case Defense SeminarKeynote Lecture, CACJ/CPDA , Invited, Monterey, CA, Spring 2015

    Other Presentations

    • Gangs and Deviance, Invited Speaker, Memorial for Professor Robert B. Edgerton, Faculty Center, 2016-2017
    • Central American Street Gangs, Latin American and Latino Studies Program , , 2015-2016
    • Central American Street Gangs, Beyond the Headlines, Westwood, CA, 2014-2015
    • Introduction to Meditation, Gang Prevention and Intervention Program, , Los Angeles, CA, 2013-2014
    • Street Gangs and Communities, Anthropology Lecture Series, Mission Viejo, California, 2012-2013
    • Central American Gang Members, Colloquium Series of the Princeton Center for Migration and Development, Department of Sociology, Princeton, NJ, 2012-2013
    • Gangs and Juvenile Justice, USC Law Class, Professor Heidi Rummel, University of Southern California, USC Law School, USC LAW SCHOOL, 2012-2013
    • Gangs in Los Angeles, Trojan League of Los Angeles, Faculty Club, University of Southern California, 2012-2013
    • Wisdom and Compassion, What Matters to Me & Why, USC, Ground Zero, 2009-2010
    • Refleciones sobre ethnografia con mareros, Workshop on Anti-gang policies, San Salvador, El Salvador, 2008-2009
    • Meditation retreat with H.E. Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak, Shenten Dargyeling Centre, Samaur, France, August 6-12
    • Tummo retreat with Kenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, Boulder CO.
    • 7 Mirrors of Dzögchen, meditation retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Pasadena, CA.
    • 7 Mirrors of Dzögchen, meditation retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Boulder, CO.
    • Khyung Mar (Red Garuda) Meditation Retreat with Geshe Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche, Minneapolis, MN.
    • 5-day meditation retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, March 1-6, Petaluma, CA.
    • Conducted a 50-day dark retreat (meditation in solitary confinement) in Crestone, Colorado, June-July, 2009.
    • Consultant, Study of MS-13 gang in US and El Salvador, conducted by Cheryl Maxson, Dept. of Criminology, Law & Society, UC Irvine.

  • Book

    • Ward, T. W. (2012). Gangsters Without Borders: An Ethnography of a Salvadoran Street Gang. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
    • Mindfulness in Cultural Practices, GESM 120, 2015-2016

  • Media, Alumni, and Community Relations

    • Speaker, Capital Case Defense Seminar, 2014-2015
    • Key Note Speaker, “Central American Street Gangs: Myths and Realities,” Beyond the Headlines, UCLA Extension, September 30., Fall 2014
    • Lecture and Book Signing, USC Bookstore, February 5, Spring 2014
    • Lecture and Book Signing, Los Angeles Book Festival, USC, April 12., Spring 2014
    • Key Note Speaker, Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles, 3rd L.A. Gang Violence Prevention and Intervention Conference and Study Tour: “Addressing the Root Causes of Gang Violence,” Los Angeles, California, May 14., Spring 2014
    • Guest Expert, Interview, Healing Honduras: Street Gang Truce, Inside Story Americas (ISA), Al Jazeera TV, May 29, 2013, http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestoryamericas/2013/05/201352965329747769.html, Spring 2013
    • “Gangs in Los Angeles,” lecture to the Trojan League of Los Angeles, Faculty Club, University of Southern California, March 13. , Spring 2013
    • Guest speaker, Colloquium Series of the Princeton Center for Migration and Development, Princeton University, Spring 2013
    • Guest lecture and book signing, Saddleback College, April 24., Spring 2013
    • Guest, Inside Story Americas, Gang Truce in Honduras, Al Jazeera TV, May 28., Spring 2013
    • Guest lecture, Pasadena Senior Citizen Center, Pasadena, Spring 2013
    • Guest speaker, Panelist, “Security in Central America: Outlook and Options,” (Vecinos Lecture Series), Americas Society/Council of the Americas and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, Fall 2012
    • Public Talk- What Matters to Me and Why? Trojan Ground Zero, USC, 2009-2010
    • “Building a home in LA, City of Angels and AK-47s,” The Age (Australia), April 19., 2007-2008

    Other Service to the University

    • Gang Expert, Participant, Eurogang Conference, Professor Karen Hennigan, organizer, USC, May 15. , Spring 2014
    • Panelist, “Gangs and Social Work,” Hamovitch Research Center, USC School of Social Work, December 4., Fall 2013
    • Guest Speaker, USC Trojan League, lecture on Gangsters without Borders, March 13., Spring 2013
    • “Gangs and Juvenile Justice,” guest lecture, USC Law Class, Professor Heidi Rummel, Spring 2013

  • Review Panels

    • The Advancement Project, Anti-gang Initiative, 2007-2008

    Media, Alumni, and Community Relations

    • Speaker, Capital Case Defense Seminar, Mitigating Gang Cases, with Ricardo D. Garcia, Esq. Multiple Conflicts Office-Major Cases County of San Diego, Monterey, CA, 2014-2015
    • Interview with Tami Abdollah, ABC News, regarding gang violence. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gang-violence-fears-children-fuel-rush-us-24690446 , Fall 2014
    • Key Note Speaker, “Addressing the Root Causes of Gang Violence,” Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles, May 14., Spring 2014
    • LA Times Book Festival, Lecture and Book Signing, April 12., Spring 2014
    • Guest Expert, Interview, Healing Honduras: Street Gang Truce, Inside Story Americas (ISA), Al Jazeera TV, May 29, 2013, http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestoryamericas/2013/05/201352965329747769.html, Spring 2013
    • “Bill Aims to Stop Gang Violence,” Callie Schweitzer, Daily Trojan, February 5., 2007-2008
    • “Cross-Cultural Uses of Urine,” MANswers, Spike TV, November 11., 2007-2008
    • “Female Juvenile Offenders,” Fox Television News, October 12., 2007-2008
    • “On Culture,” Anthropology Series, Coast Telecourse Systems, March 10., 2007-2008
    • “Race-Based Gang Violence,” Rogelio Mora, Telemundo, March 6., 2007-2008
    • “Summit on Transnational Gangs,” Annenberg TV News, March 5., 2007-2008
    • “Transnational Gangs,” Frank Stoltze, KPCC Radio, August 3., 2007-2008
    • Guest Speaker, “Gang Violence Awareness Panel,” Occidental College, April 21., 2007-2008
    • Sponsor, Media Training for Gang Prevention/Intervention Workers, U.S.C., July 22., 2007-2008

    Other Service to the Profession

    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, H. Nelson Meeks, Esq., San Francisco, CA, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, National Benefits Center, Overland Park, KS, File No. A#214 030 365,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, David J. Shaw, Esq., Washington, DC, United States Department of Justice, Immigration Court, Arlington, VA, File No. A#208-743-942, August 26, Pro Bono,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, David J. Shaw, Esq., Washington, DC, United States Department of Justice, Immigration Court, Arlington, VA, File No. A#208-743-943, August 26, Pro Bono,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, Jesse Evans-Schroeder, Attorney, Tucson, AZ, United States Department of Justice, Immigration Court, Tucson, AZ, File No. A#094-203-323,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, Rose Kautz, Esq., Adam Shapiro, Esq., Irell & Manella LLP, Los Angeles, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Los Angeles, CA, File No. A-206-675-290, Judge Tabbador,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, Raha Jorjani, Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, Oakland, CA, Executive Office for Immigration Review, San Francisco, CA, File No. A 029-567-262, Judge Simpson,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, John P. Long, Derek R. Flores, Attorneys, Irell & Manella LLP, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Los Angeles, CA, File No. A206-474-238, A206-890-359, A202-095-332, Judge Tara Naselow-Nahas,
    • Faculty Master Talk, ‘Gang Truces in Central America,’ King Hall, March 3, 2015, 6:30 p.m.,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, Brian W. Sullivan, Esq., Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, for Erick Gomez-Alvarenga, United States Immigration Court, Philadelphia, PA, October 7. ,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, Jesse Evans-Schroeder, Esq., for Wilson Enrique Lagos, Case No. 042-129-847, United States Immigration Court, Tucson, AZ, The Honorable Thomas O’Leary, July 2.,
    • Expert Witness, Immigration Case, Katherine DeGovia, Deputy Public Defender, for Byron Celis, Case No. PJ5j0629, Superior Court, Los Angeles, CA, The Honorable Robert J. Schuit, June 29. ,
    • Expert Witness, Asylum Case, Leon Hazany, Esq., for Edward Gonzalez Valenzuela, A092-146-887, United States Immigration Court, Philadelphia, PA, June 28. ,
    • Expert Witness, Immigration Case Parvin Wiliani, Esq., for Santos de Jesus Ramirez Rodriguez, A205-932-277, United States Immigration Court, Los Angeles, CA, April 29.,
    • Expert Witness, Criminal Case, Edward Esquedo, Attorney for Vladimir Osvaldo Valiente, Case No. 12-060078, A187 PC-Attempted Murder, United States Criminal Court, Los Angeles, CA, February 14, retrial. ,
    • Expert Witness, Immigration Case, Jeremy L. McKinney, Attorney for Oscar Rene Ventura, A205-165-676, Judge Pettinato, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Charlotte, NC, October 11. ,
    • Expert Witness, Criminal Court, Virginia, and four Immigration Cases,
    • Expert Witness, Immigration Case, Leon Hazany, Attorney for Juan Carlos Rosales, CASE NO: A200-787-215, Judge I.J. Stancill, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Los Angeles, CA, May 22.,
    • Served as an expert witness in two death penalty cases, and two immigration cases involving members of street gangs. ,
    • Served as an expert witness in three asylum cases involving youth who were fearing persecution from gang members in Central America. ,
    • Participant, The Eurogang Conference, IX, Prof. Malcolm Klein, Organizer, University of Southern California, L.A., May 18-21.,