Michael Rutz graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in Psychology and Criminal Justice and earned both an M.S. in Sociology and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention from Virginia Commonwealth University. His research interests include  intimate partner violence, prisoner reentry, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ policies.

Michael is a full-time instructor of Sociology at Brightpoint Community College, teaching courses in
Social Problems and Anthropology. He has previously taught courses in gender, race and ethnicity,
human sexuality, sociological theory, criminology, and deviance. Michael also proudly serves on
Brightpoint’s Threat Assessment Team and Title IX Review Committee.