Trevor Fronius has been named the new Director of WestEd’s Justice and Prevention team. Fronius, a senior social science researcher for WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center, brings to his new position 15 years of experience conducting research focused on improving the behaviors and conditions that affect the health, safety, and overall quality of life for youth, young adults, and their families. 

In his new role, Fronius will oversee WestEd’s partnerships with government agencies, foundations, and community organizations to conduct rigorous studies, lead policy analyses, and provide evidence-informed technical assistance to address critical challenges in justice and prevention. His team will inform solutions and provide recommendations for school and community safety, violence prevention, substance misuse and other public health issues, and justice system improvements. 

“Our goal is to create safer, more equitable environments for all,” Fronius said. “By leveraging data and research, we can drive meaningful change in how communities approach safety, justice, and prevention and help build environments in which all can thrive.” 

Fronius specializes in justice, school safety, violence prevention, and public health research. His areas of expertise include community violence, school policing and student safety, reentry and diversion programs, and issues involving systems-impacted youths. He has published evaluations on various issues, including community violence, restorative justice, and school police programs. He also serves as a research and evaluation subject matter expert on federal training and technical assistance centers.  

“Trevor’s work around school safety and violence prevention brings evidence and information to the foreground, informing policy and practices that support children and youth,” said WestEd CEO Jannelle Kubinec. 

Fronius earned his PhD in criminology and criminal justice studies from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where his research focused on social capital and community violence. He regularly presents at professional conferences on school safety, violence prevention, and evaluation methods and is a peer reviewer for multiple criminal justice and education journals.