Recognition

In 2009, Dr. Balkan was honored by the Promises Foundation with the Bob Timmins Award for Outstanding Service in the Field of Social Service. The Promises Foundation supports substance abuse prevention and provides behavioral health services to low-income women and their families.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recognized Dr. Sheila Balkan in 2009 for her active involvement in the Summer Night Lights Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program. The Mayor has previously commended Dr. Balkan for assisting the City and its inner city youth in the creation of the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center's music program. The music program includes a state-of-the-art recording studio that Dr. Balkan developed in conjunction with Jeff Greenberg/The Village Recorder, Harold Owens/Grammy Foundation, and Don Griffin/West L.A. Music. Part of the funding for this project was derived from a red-carpet event that Dr. Balkan co-hosted with Mr. Owens.

Dr. Balkan has testified as an expert witness in the field of criminology and has served as an expert and producer for a number of biographical and documentary news programs, including Catherine Crier Live, Court TV, 2004; E! True Hollywood Story: Ginger Lynn, 2002; Truth Has Fallen - Freeing Prisoners Wrongfully Convicted of Murder, 2002; Stop the Cycle of Violence, a domestic violence Public Service Announcement for MTV, (Winner of the 1998 Telly Award for best PSA); Compassionate Release for Judy Cagle, an incarcerated AIDS victim, Japanese Television, 1997.

Working under contract to Warner Bros. (2001), Dr. Balkan served as a consultant and producer on a television pilot, Harry Stone, for NBC based on her work as a criminologist. The project was filmed in the Los Angeles area.