About Sara

Dr. Sara K. Thompson is a Professor of Criminology at Toronto Metropolitan University. She served as Associate Director of the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society (TSAS) from program inception to close (September 2012 – May 2023) and co-chaired the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Research Advisory Committee from 2018 to 2023. Thompson is currently appointed to the National Hate Crime Task Force (Canada) and sits on the CACP Counter Terrorism and National Security - Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Committee. Her recent and ongoing research focuses on hate crime, extremist violence, P/CVE programming, community reporting thresholds and preferences in the context of hate crime and violent extremism, and the evaluation of violence prevention programs and policy.

Thompson’s research involves mixed-methods and community-based participatory methodologies, deep engagement with security practitioners, and diverse knowledge mobilization activities to facilitate real-world impact on policy and society. She has been involved as a Principal Investigator on a number of multi-year, multi-site research projects funded by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Public Safety Canada, Defence Research & Development Canada, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Thompson has presented her research findings at a range of domestic and international academic and practitioner conferences and has briefed high-level government and security officials on issues related to hate crime, violent extremism, P/CVE and program evaluation.