Dr. Marcus A. Donnelly

Aisha Bello is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at International University Canada, where she teaches and mentors students across the School of Law. Her academic work focuses on restorative justice practices, examining how alternative approaches to criminal justice center victim healing, offender accountability, and community repair rather than relying solely on punitive sentencing.

Throughout her academic career, Aisha Bello has developed a teaching approach that introduces students to restorative justice as a complement to, and sometimes alternative to, traditional adversarial criminal proceedings. She encourages students to critically evaluate when restorative approaches are appropriate and how they can be implemented effectively alongside formal justice systems.

In her courses, Aisha Bello draws on restorative justice program case studies, victim-offender dialogue frameworks, and current research in alternative justice models to help students understand the practical and theoretical dimensions of restorative approaches. Students explore topics such as victim-offender mediation, community-based sentencing circles, restorative justice program design, and the evidence base for restorative justice outcomes compared to traditional sentencing.

As an Associate Professor within the Department of Criminal Justice, Aisha Bello also contributes to curriculum planning that introduces students to the growing field of restorative and alternative justice practices. She works closely with colleagues across the School of Law to ensure that coursework reflects current research on restorative justice effectiveness and implementation challenges.

Aisha Bello places particular emphasis on helping students understand restorative justice from multiple stakeholder perspectives, including victims, offenders, and affected communities, recognizing that successful restorative processes require careful attention to all parties' needs and safety. She designs coursework that encourages students to consider the practical and ethical dimensions of restorative justice implementation.

Recognizing that many of her students are working professionals studying online, Aisha Bello structures her courses with accessible program case studies, clear restorative justice frameworks, and consistent opportunities for applied discussion. Her approach to online teaching emphasizes building practical program design skills that students can apply within criminal justice and community justice contexts.

Students who study under Aisha Bello often highlight her ability to connect restorative justice theory with genuinely practical program implementation considerations. Her long-term goal as an educator is to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to support careers in restorative justice, criminal justice reform, and community-based justice programs.