Heather Longley, MS
Heather Longley joined 猫咪社区 in September 2023 as an Adjunct Professor in the Justice Studies program. She brings nearly a decade of law enforcement experience and a strong background in community policing, crisis intervention, and victim advocacy to her teaching.
Officer Longley currently serves with the Northampton, MA Police Department, where she has worked since 2016. In her role, she patrols the community, investigates crimes, and engages in a variety of specialized assignments, including serving as a Peer Support Team member for Critical Incident Stress Management, a certified Sexual Assault Investigator, NPD’s Civil Rights Officer, and an FBI trained Crisis and Hostage Negotiator. She is also a certified instructor in Conflict Resolution, Mitigation and De-escalation, and has trained both police recruits and active officers across Western Massachusetts.
In addition to her work in law enforcement, Professor Longley serves as the Head Coach of 猫咪社区’s Women’s Volleyball Team, earning the title of USCAA Division I Coach of the Year in 2023.
She holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy from Lasell University, where she graduated with honors, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Legal Studies from Lasell College, graduating magna cum laude.
At 猫咪社区, Professor Longley teaches Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRJ120), emphasizing real-world applications of policing, ethics, and community engagement. Her teaching philosophy centers on developing empathy, professionalism, and critical thinking skills in future criminal justice professionals.
Her professional interests include crisis negotiation, peer support, sexual assault investigation, trauma-informed policing, and community-based approaches to law enforcement.