Dr. Marilyn J. Howell earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Western Washington University, a Master of Arts Degree in Sociology/Alcohol Studies at Washington State University Pullman, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from WSU-Pullman.  

Her dissertation title was “Husbands Who Harm: Predicting Spouse Abuse.”  It involved a re-analysis of data testing multiple theoretical factors which might explain the man’s decision to batter in heterosexual relationships. While in graduate school, she worked with the local battered women’s advocacy/shelter program in Pullman as a crisis counselor and, later, as a trainer of new volunteers.  Since that time, she has published several articles in academic journals regarding partner and courtship violence and has worked with a Vermont biologist and an historian on developing a systems dynamics model of partner violence.

Dr. Howell has been teaching at Clark College since 2000 and is now a tenured professor in the Sociology Department.  She teaches both Sociology and Criminal Justice-related courses. She notes, "I love teaching sociology because I think it’s crucial that modern, educated people understand the importance of interaction and culture in the formation of everyone’s beliefs, opinions and behaviors."

In addition, Dr. Howell has taught a college level course on Domestic Violence several times within the past 15 years and introduced that course in the Sociology Department at Clark College.  She notes, "It is one of a very few college courses nationally on this important social problem.  I remain passionately interested in understanding, and teaching about, the social, cultural, historic, economic and political aspects of intimate partner violence, as it is in my estimation the biggest social problem of our time.  The more understanding we have of its causes, the better chance of getting a grasp on how to get the batterers to stop."