News

Department News, Fall 2022

• This summer we welcomed a new Professor to our Department:
• Dr. Danielle Rudes earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University California, Irvine and worked as a faculty member at George Mason University since 2008. Dr. Rudes has expertise in qualitative research methods and corrections. She is the author of Surviving Solitary: Living and Working within Restricted Housing Units (2022, Stanford University Press).
• This fall we welcome five Assistant Professors and a Professor to our Department:
• Dr. Laura Iesue earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Miami in 2021, with specialties in criminology and race, ethnicity, and immigration studies. Dr. Iesue conducts comparative research on violence among individuals, assesses how violence impacts individual and community behavior, and considers how criminal justice and/or development programs aimed at curbing violence may or may not work in the long-term.
• Dr. Elizabeth Hartsell earned her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 2022. Her research interests include courts, problem-solving courts, substance use & mental health services in the criminal justice system, mixed methods and evaluation research, and instrumentation.
• Dr. Bitna Kim earned her Ph.D. from Sam Houston State University in 2008. Previously, Dr. Kim was a Professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Research interests include translational criminology, CJ practitioners' receptivity to research, evidence-based practice training, and research/evidence synthesis using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach.
• Dr. Alexander B. Kinney earned his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 2022. His research focuses on drug policy, gray markets, politically motivated violence, and punishment. He has expertise in qualitative methods and computational methods of text analysis.
• Dr. Wanda Leal earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2017. Dr. Leal previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University – San Antonio. Her research focuses on substance use and abuse, drug policy, sports and crime, and developmental/life-course criminology.
• Dr. Heejin Lee earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 2020, where she is now completing an M.S. in statistics. Her research interests include testing criminological theories, offender decision-making and narrative identities, public opinion and correctional reform, and advanced research methods, including virtually reality technology.
• US News and World Report recently ranked our Department’s on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
• US News and World Report recently ranked our Department #15 in the United States, among PhD granting criminal justice and criminology departments.
• Our Department is offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion.
• Doctoral Student Marilyn Ee received the 2022 ACJS Section of Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
• Doctoral student Cristal Hernandez received a 2022 Travel Scholarship from ASC’s Division of Victimology.
• Doctoral student Kaitlyn Pederson was selected into the 2022 Learning Experiences to Advance Practice (LEAP) Scholar program within the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). LEAP is a research education and mentorship program to advance the capacity for producing impactful research.
• Dr. Jonathan Reid was selected to participate in the National Opinion Research Center’s Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion Scholars Program.
• Dr. Jared Dmello is leading a study funded by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center ($49,959) titled Behind the Trigger: Investigating the Typologies of Gang-Involved Individuals Charged with Firearm-Related Offenses in New Jersey.
• Dr. Danielle Rudes has been selected for a Bureau of Justice Fellowship ($271,480) to lead a project titled “Enhancing Correctional Spaces & Cultures.”
• Drs. Eric Connolly and Sultan Altikriti have been awarded a grant from the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research to study predictors of gun violence among youth ($50,000).
• Drs. Yan Zhang, Solomon Zhao, and Bill Wells are collaborating with the Houston Police Department to on a project funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance ($105,191) to evaluate the use of Social Network Analysis to combat human trafficking.
• Dr. Yan Zhang is the inaugural Beto Endowed Fellow in the College of Criminal Justice.
• Dr. Danielle Boisvert as been re-elected as Executive Counselor on the Board of the Western Society of Criminology.
• Dr. Stuti Kokkalera’s first book was published in summer 2022. In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life: Legal Representation and Juvenile Criminal Justice has been published by Routledge.
• Dr. Erin Orrick is serving as a research partner for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an Innovative Reentry Initiatives grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
• Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas’ Project Safe Neighborhoods grant. The project is in its third year.
• Dr. Bill Wells is PI on a project that will establish a regional police de-escalation training center at LEMIT. The project is funded by Office of Community Oriented Policing Services ($981,760).
• Dr. Kelly Damphousse earned his undergraduate in Criminal Justice from SHSU and became the 10th president of Texas State University in summer 2022.
• Recent PhD graduates and their positions:
• Dr. Brittany Acquaviva - Ball State University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
• Dr. Matthew Bills – Correctional Management Institute of Texas, Research Associate
• Dr. Alondra Garza – University of Central Florida, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
• Dr. Amanda Goodson – University of Texas El Paso, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
• Dr. Chris Guerra – University of Texas El Paso, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
• Dr. Christi Gullion – University of Texas-Arlington, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
• Dr. Alicia Jurek – San Diego Workforce Partnership, Economist
• Dr. Shamika Kelley – The Forensic Center of Excellence/Texas Forensic Science Nursing Examiners, Research Director
• Dr. Alexis Rockwell – University of South Alabama, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
• Dr. Wesley Smith – Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Research and Development Division, Data Analyst

• Department News, Summer 2022
  • This summer we welcome a new Professor to our Department:
  • Dr. Danielle Rudes earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University California, Irvine and worked as a faculty member at George Mason University since 2008. Dr. Rudes has expertise in qualitative research methods and corrections. She is the author of Surviving Solitary: Living and Working within Restricted Housing Units, which was published by Stanford University Press this year.
  • In spring 2022 we welcomed a new Assistant Professor to our Department:
  • Dr. Jared Dmello earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice & Criminology, Option in Terrorism Studies, from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2019. Dr. Dmello previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M International University. His area of research focuses on illicit networks, with specific emphasis on criminal street gangs and violent extremism.
  • In fall 2021 we welcomed three Assistant Professors to our Department:
  • Dr. Miltonette Craig earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2018 and her J.D. from Georgia State University in 2009. Dr. Craig previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Illinois State University. Her research focuses on race and crime, media framing, and police-community relations.
  • Dr. Cassandra Gonzalez earned her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 2021 and studies sex trafficking in Black communities and state violence. Her expertise is in intersectionality, qualitative methods, and race and gender's impacts on victimization and offending.
  • Dr. Jonathan Reid earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2021. His research examines the relationship between socio-political inequalities and violent criminal offending, explores police-community relations, and tests criminological theories.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department's on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department #15 in the United States, among PhD granting criminal justice and criminology departments.
  • Our Department is offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion.
  • Dr. Yan Zhang has been named the inaugural Beto Endowed Fellow in the College of Criminal Justice.
  • Dr. Stuti Kokkalera’s first book was published this summer. In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life: Legal Representation and Juvenile Criminal Justice has been published by Routledge.
  • Dr. Randy Garner celebrated his 25th year at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Garner!
  • Doctoral Student Marilyn Ee received the 2022 ACJS Section of Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
  • Dr. Kelly Damphousse earned his undergraduate in Criminal Justice from SHSU and is became the 10th president of Texas State University this summer.
  • Dr. Holly Miller received the 2022 College of Criminal Justice award for Excellence in Service
  • Dr. Mitch Roth received the 2022 College of Criminal Justice award for Excellence in Research
  • Dr. Danielle Rudes has been selected for a Bureau of Justice Fellowship to work on a project titled “Enhancing Correctional Spaces & Cultures.”
  • Drs. Eric Connolly and Sultan Altikriti have been awarded a grant from the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research to study predictors of gun violence among youth.
  • Dr. Ling Ren received a College of Criminal Justice Field Impact Grant in 2022 to facilitate her research on law enforcement responses to opioid overdoses.
  • Dr. John Navarro received a College of Criminal Justice Field Impact Grant in 2022 to facilitate his research on attitudes toward police use of force.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick is serving as a research partner for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an Innovative Reentry Initiatives grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Dr. Jason Ingram continues his service as Chair of the American Society of Criminology, Division of Policing.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas’ Project Safe Neighborhoods grant. The project is in its third year.
  • Recent PhD graduates and their positions:
  • Dr. Brittany Acquaviva - Ball State University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Matthew Bills – Correctional Management Institute of Texas, Research Associate
  • Dr. Alondra Garza – University of Central Florida, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Amanda Goodson – University of Texas El Paso, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Chris Guerra – University of Texas El Paso, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Christi Gullion – University of Texas-Arlington, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Alicia Jurek – San Diego Workforce Partnership, Economist
  • Dr. Shamika Kelley – The Forensic Center of Excellence/Texas Forensic Science Nursing Examiners, Research Director
  • Dr. Alexis Rockwell – University of South Alabama, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Wesley Smith – Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Research and Development Division, Data Analyst
• Department News, Spring 2022
  • This spring we welcome a new Assistant Professor to our Department:
  • Dr. Jared Dmello earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice & Criminology, Option in Terrorism Studies, from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2019. Dr. Dmello previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M International University. His area of research focuses on illicit networks, with specific emphasis on criminal street gangs and violent extremism.
  • In fall 2021 we welcomed three Assistant Professors to our Department:
  • Dr. Miltonette Craig earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2018 and her J.D. from Georgia State University in 2009. Dr. Craig previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Illinois State University. Her research focuses on race and crime, media framing, and police-community relations.
  • Dr. Cassandra Gonzalez earned her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 2021 and studies sex trafficking in Black communities and state violence. Her expertise is in intersectionality, qualitative methods, and race and gender's impacts on victimization and offending.
  • Dr. Jonathan Reid earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2021. His research examines the relationship between socio-political inequalities and violent criminal offending, explores police-community relations, and tests criminological theories.
  • This fall we welcomed Dr. Sultan Altikriti as a post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Altikriti earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 2021 and studies the mechanisms that link aspects of developmental and life-course criminology with decision-making and behavioral outcomes.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department's on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department #15 in the United States, among PhD granting criminal justice and criminology departments.
  • Our Department is offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion.
  • Dr. Randy Garner is celebrating his 25th year at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Garner!
  • In summer 2021 we welcomed Nu'Nicka Epps to the College of Criminal Justice. Nu is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Criminal Justice.
  • Doctoral Student Marilyn Ee received the 2022 ACJS Section of Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
  • Doctoral Student Kristina Block received the 2021 American Society of Criminology - Division of Experimental Criminology Student Paper Award. Kristina's award-winning paper will be published in Crime & Delinquency.
  • Doctoral Student Shamika Kelley received the 2021 ASC Division of Women and Crime Saltzman Award for contributions to practice.
  • Dr. John Navarro received a College of Criminal Justice Field Impact Grant in 2022 to facilitate his research on attitudes toward police use of force.
  • Dr. Ling Ren received a College of Criminal Justice Field Impact Grant in 2022 to facilitate her research on law enforcement responses to opioid overdoses.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick is serving as a research partner for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an Innovative Reentry Initiatives grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Dr. Jason Ingram continues his service as Chair of the American Society of Criminology, Division of Policing.
  • Dr. Yan Zhang and Dr. Bill Wells are serving as research partners on a Strategies for Policing Innovation project with the Houston Police Department. The project is being funded through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas’ Project Safe Neighborhoods grant. The project is in its third year.
  • Recent PhD graduates and their positions:
  • Dr. Brittany Acquaviva - Ball State University, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Matthew Bills - Correctional Management Institute of Texas
  • Dr. Alondra Garza - University of Central Florida, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Amanda Goodson - University of Texas El Paso, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Chris Guerra - University of Texas El Paso, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Christi Guillion - University of Texas-Arlington, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Alicia Jurek - San Diego Workforce Partnership, Economist
  • Dr. Shamika Kelley - The Forensic Center of Excellence/Texas Forensic Science Nursing Examiners, Research Director
  • Dr. Alexis Rockwell - University of South Alabama, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Wesley Smith - Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Research and Development Division, Data Analyst
• Department News, Fall 2021
  • This fall we welcome three Assistant Professors to our Department:
  • Dr. Miltonette Craig earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2018 and her J.D. from Georgia State University in 2009. Dr. Craig previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Illinois State University. Her research focuses on race and crime, media framing, and police-community relations.
  • Dr. Cassandra Gonzalez earned her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 2021 and studies sex trafficking in Black communities and state violence. Her expertise is in intersectionality, qualitative methods, and race and gender's impacts on victimization and offending.
  • Dr. Jonathan Reid earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2021. His research examines the relationship between socio-political inequalities and violent criminal offending, explores police-community relations, and tests criminological theories.
  • This fall we welcome Dr. Sultan Altikriti as a post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Altikriti earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 2021 and studies the mechanisms that link aspects of developmental and life-course criminology with decision-making and behavioral outcomes.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department's on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department #15 in the United States, among PhD granting criminal justice and criminology departments.
  • Our Department is offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion.
  • Dr. Randy Garner is celebrating his 25th year at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Garner!
  • This summer we welcomed Nu'Nicka Epps to the College of Criminal Justice. Nu is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Criminal Justice.
  • Doctoral Student Alondra Garza was awarded a Ruth Peterson Fellowship by the American Society of Criminology in the spring 2021 semester.
  • Doctoral Student Kristina Block is the recipient of the 2021 American Society of Criminology - Division of Experimental Criminology Student Paper Award. Kristina's award-winning paper will be published in Crime & Delinquency.
  • Dr. Bill Wells received the 2021 Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments from SHSU.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert is serving as an Administrative Fellow in the SHSU Provost's Office throughout 2021. Her work will focus on enhancing student success.
  • Dr. John Navarro received a 2021 summer research grant from the SHSU Office of Research Administration to support his research on rape myths.
  • Dr. Andia Azimi participated in the 2021 Summer Training Institute for Research in Child Abuse and Neglect, presented by John Jay College.
  • Dr. Holly Miller is leading a project to summarize Texas' responses to sexual abuse and offer recommendations for improvements. The research is funded by the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick is serving as a research partner for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an Innovative Reentry Initiatives grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Dr. Jason Ingram continues his service as Chair of the American Society of Criminology, Division of Policing.
  • Dr. Yan Zhang and Dr. Bill Wells are serving as research partners on a Strategies for Policing Innovation project with the Houston Police Department. The project is being funded through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas' Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
  • Recent PhD graduates and their academic positions:
  • Dr. Kate Angulski – University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Sarah Bostrom - Avila University
  • Dr. Ahram Cho – New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Eric Cooke - University of Alberta
  • Dr. William Dittman - Angelo State University
  • Dr. Amanda Goodson – Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dr. Tri Keah Henry – Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Dr. Rick Lewis – University of Arkansas, Little Rock
  • Dr. Ethan Marshall – University of Houston - Downtown
  • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr – University of West Florida
  • Dr. Gyeongseok Oh – Korean National Police University
  • Dr. Brenda Riley – Texas A & M University, Texarkana
  • Dr. Nicholas Salimbene – University of Wisconsin - Parkside
  • Dr. Joshua Shadwick – Southeast Missouri State University
  • Dr. Alexander Updegrove – University of North Texas
  • Dr. Xinting Wang – Ball State University
• Department News, Summer 2021
  • This summer we welcome Nu’Nicka Epps to the College of Criminal Justice. Nu is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Criminal Justice.
  • In the spring 2021 semester we welcomed Dr. Heather Alaniz to our Department as a Visiting Assistant Professor.
  • Dr. Alaniz earner her Ph.D. from Texas Southern University in 2017. Dr. Alaniz is currently working on a project that assesses the impact of body-worn cameras in a southern border city in Texas. Dr. Alaniz taught Multiculturalism in Criminal Justice this past spring semester.
  • This past academic year we welcomed five Assistant Professors to our Department:
  • Dr. Wyatt Brown earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2016 and previously directed our Department’s Master of Science on-line degree program. Dr. Brown studies inequalities in crime and punishment and tests criminological theories.
  • Dr. Stuti Kokkalera earned her Ph.D. from Northeastern University in 2020 and studies the way discretionary release practices impact juveniles sentenced to life in prison.
  • Dr. Chelsey Narvey earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2020 and studies corrections, reentry, and developmental psychopathology.
  • Dr. John Navarro earned his Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in 2017 and studies how the public uses sex offender registries, communities and social ecology, and public policy.
  • Dr. Javier Ramos earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2020 and studies immigration and crime and the relationship between criminal justice research and public policy.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department’s on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department #15 in the United States, among PhD granting criminal justice and criminology departments.
  • Our Department is offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion.
  • The College of Criminal Justice launched the Department of Victim Studies in fall 2020. This is the first department of its kind in the United States and Dr. Shelly Clevenger serves as the Department’s first Chair.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert is serving as an Administrative Fellow in the SHSU Provost’s Office throughout 2021. Her work will focus on enhancing student success.
  • Dr. Andia Azimi participated in the 2021 Summer Training Institute for Research in Child Abuse and Neglect, presented by John Jay College.
  • Dr. Holly Miller is leading project this summer to summarize Texas’ responses to sexual abuse and offer recommendations for improvements. The research is funded by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick is serving as a research partner for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an Innovative Reentry Initiatives grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Doctoral Student Alondra Garza was awarded a Ruth Peterson Fellowship by the American Society of Criminology in the spring semester.
  • Dr. John Navarro received a 2021 summer research grant from the SHSU Office of Research Administration to support his research on rape myths.
  • Dr. Jason Ingram continues his service as Chair of the American Society of Criminology, Division of Policing.
  • Dr. Mitchel Roth received the 2020 Frederic Milton Thrasher Award from the National Gang Research Center for his contributions to gang research. 
  • Dr. Yan Zhang and Dr. Bill Wells are serving as research partners on a Strategies for Policing Innovation project with the Houston Police Department. The project is being funded through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas’ Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
  • Dr. Jurg Gerber celebrated his 30th year as a faculty member at SHSU during the 2020-2021 academic year. Congratulations Dr. Gerber!
  • Dean Phillip Lyons and Dr. Mitchel Roth celebrated their 25th years as faculty members at SHSU during the 2020-2021 academic year. Congratulations Dean Lyons and Dr. Roth!
  • Dr. Holly Miller celebrated her 20th year as a faculty member at SHSU during the 2020-2021 academic year. Congratulations Dr. Miller!
  • Recent PhD graduates and their academic positions:
  • Dr. Kate Angulski – University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Ahram Cho – New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Amanda Goodson – Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dr. Tri Keah Henry – Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Dr. Rick Lewis – University of Arkansas, Little Rock
  • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr – University of West Florida
  • Dr. Brenda Riley – Texas A & M University, Texarkana
  • Dr. Joshua Shadwick – Southeast Missouri State University
  • Dr. Alexander Updegrove – University of North Texas
• Department News, Spring 2021
  • This spring semester we welcome Dr. Heather Alaniz to our Department as a Visiting Assistant Professor.
  • Dr. Alaniz earned her Ph.D. from Texas Southern University in 2017. Dr. Alaniz is currently working on a project that assesses the impact of body-worn cameras in a southern border city in Texas. Dr. Alaniz is teaching Multiculturalism in Criminal Justice this spring semester.
  • This academic year we welcome five Assistant Professors to our Department:
  • Dr. Wyatt Brown earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2016 and previously directed our Department’s Master of Science on-line degree program. Dr. Brown studies inequalities in crime and punishment and tests criminological theories.
  • Dr. Stuti Kokkalera earned her Ph.D. from Northeastern University in 2020 and studies the way discretionary release practices impact juveniles sentenced to life in prison.
  • Dr. Chelsey Narvey earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2020 and studies corrections, reentry, and developmental psychopathology.
  • Dr. John Navarro earned his Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in 2017 and studies how the public uses sex offender registries, communities and social ecology, and public policy.
  • Dr. Javier Ramos earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2020 and studies immigration and crime and the relationship between criminal justice research and public policy.
  • Our Department is now offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion. 
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department’s on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • The College of Criminal Justice launched the Department of Victim Studies in fall 2020. This is the first department of its kind in the United States and Dr. Shelly Clevenger serves as the Department’s first Chair.
  • Dr. Jurg Gerber is celebrating his 30th year as a faculty member at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Gerber!
  • Dean Phillip Lyons and Dr. Mitchel Roth are celebrating their 25th years as faculty members at SHSU. Congratulations Dean Lyons and Dr. Roth!
  • Dr. Holly Miller is celebrating her 20th year as a faculty member at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Miller!
  • During the 2021 calendar year Dr. Danielle Boisvert will serve as an Administrative Fellow in the SHSU Provost’s Office. Her work will focus on enhancing student success.
  • In the fall semester, Dr. Jason Ingram was elected to serve as Chair of the American Society of Criminology, Division of Policing.
  • Dr. Holly Miller launched a newly funded project this spring. The project is funded by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas and will summarize Texas’ responses to sexual abuse and offer recommendations for improvements.
  • Dr. Mitchel Roth received the 2020 Frederic Milton Thrasher Award from the National Gang Research Center for his contributions to gang research.
  • Doctoral Student Katherine Meeker received Honorable Mention in the American Society of Criminology, Division of Victimology Graduate Student Paper competition.
  • Dr. Eryn O’Neal received the 2020 Faculty Teacher of the Year Award from the American Society of Criminology, Division of Victimology.
  • Dr. Ryan Randa continues to lead a research partnership with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to enhance their capacity to lead statewide work to fight human trafficking.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick is serving as a research partner for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an Innovative Reentry Initiatives grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Dr. Andia Azimi was selected to participate in the 2020 Summer Training Institute for Research in Child Abuse and Neglect at John Jay College in New York City. The Institute was postponed due to COVID-19 so Dr. Azimi expects to participate in 2021.
  • Dr. Yan Zhang and Dr. Bill Wells are serving as research partners on a Strategies for Policing Innovation project with the Houston Police Department. The project is being funded through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas’ Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
  • Recent PhD graduates and their academic positions:
  • Dr. Kate Angulski - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Ahram Cho - New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Amanda Goodson - Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dr. Tri Keah Henry - Indiana University, Bloomington
  • Dr. Rick Lewis - University of Arkansas, Little Rock
  • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr - University of West Florida
  • Dr. Brenda Riley - Texas A & M University, Texarkana
  • Dr. Joshua Shadwick - Southeast Missouri State University
  • Dr. Alexander Updegrove - University of North Texas
• Department News, Fall 2020
  • This fall we welcome five Assistant Professors to our Department:
  • Dr. Wyatt Brown earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2016 and previously directed our Department's Master of Science on-line degree program. Dr. Brown studies inequalities in crime and punishment and tests criminological theories.
  • Dr. Stuti Kokkalera earned her Ph.D. from Northeastern University in 2020 and studies the way discretionary release practices impact juveniles sentenced to life in prison.
  • Dr. Chelsey Narvey earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2020 and studies corrections, reentry, and developmental psychopathology.
  • Dr. John Navarro earned his Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in 2017 and studies how the public uses sex offender registries, communities and social ecology, and public policy.
  • Dr. Javier Ramos earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2020 and studies immigration and crime and the relationship between criminal justice research and public policy.
  • Congratulations to the spring and summer 2020 Criminal Justice graduates!
  • Our Department serves over 3,000 Criminal Justice undergraduate majors and each semester course enrollments reach 6,000 students.
  • Our Department is now offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department's on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • The College of Criminal Justice launched the Department of Victim Studies in fall 2020.  This is the first department of its kind in the United States and Dr. Shelly Clevenger serves as the Department's first Chair.
  • Dr. Jurg Gerber is celebrating his 30th year as a faculty member at SHSU.  Congratulations Dr. Gerber!
  • Dean Phillip Lyons and Dr. Mitchel Roth are celebrating their 25th years as faculty members at SHSU. Congratulations Dean Lyons and Dr. Roth!
  • Dr. Mitchel Roth received the 2020 Frederic Milton Thrasher Award from the National Gang Research Center for his contributions to gang research.
  • Dr. Ryan Randa is leading a research partnership with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to study their capacity to lead statewide work to fight human trafficking.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick is serving as a research partner for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on an Innovative Reentry Initiatives grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Dr. Yan Zhang and Dr. Bill Wells are serving as research partners on a Strategies for Policing Innovation project with the Houston Police Department. The project is being funded through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
  • Dr. Cortney Franklin is the Co-Principal Investigator on a collaborative research project with researchers from Tarleton State University and the Fort Worth Police Department.  This research is funded by a grant from the National Institute of Justice.
  • Dr. Andia Azimi was selected to participate in the 2020 Summer Training Institute for Research in Child Abuse and Neglect at John Jay College in New York City.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas' Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
  • The National Institute of Justice invited Dr. Danielle Boisvert to write a white paper that describes research-based innovations for policy and practice geared toward promoting the desistance process from a biosocial perspective.
  • Recent PhD graduates and their academic positions:
  • Dr. Kate Angulski - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Ahram Cho - New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Amanda Goodson - Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dr. Tri Keah Henry - Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Dr. Rick Lewis - University of Arkansas, Little Rock
  • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr - University of West Florida
  • Dr. Brenda Riley - Texas A & M University, Texarkana
  • Dr. Joshua Shadwick - Southeast Missouri State University
  • Dr. Alexander Updegrove - University of North Texas
• Department News, Summer 2020
  • Congratulations to the spring 2020 Criminal Justice graduates!
  • Our Department serves over 3,000 Criminal Justice undergraduate majors and each semester our course enrollments top 6,000.
  • Our Department is offering a new minor in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department's on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • The College of Criminal Justice will launch the Department of Victim Studies in fall 2020. This is the first such department in the United States and Dr. Shelly Clevenger is the department's first chair.
  • Dr. Dennis Longmire is celebrating his 35th year as a faculty member at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Longmire.
  • Dr. Ryan Randa is leading a research partnership with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to study their capacity to lead statewide work to fight human trafficking. Results will provide TABC leadership with practical information they can use to make changes that will enhance their abilities to address the problem of human trafficking in Texas.
  • Dr. Andia Azimi was selected to participate in the 2020 Summer Training Institute for Research in Child Abuse and Neglect at John Jay College in New York City.
  • The National Institute of Justice invited Dr. Danielle Boisvert to write a white paper that describes research-based innovations for policy and practice geared toward promoting the desistance process from a biosocial perspective.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas' Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
  • CJ undergraduate students Carlos Ballesteros, Cydnii Richard-Daniels, and Jared Simpson were members of the SHSU Ethics Bowl team that competed in the national championship in Atlanta in February 2020.
  • Recent PhD graduates / PhD students and their academic positions:
  • Dr. Kate Angulski - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Ahram Cho - New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Amanda Goodson - Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dr. Tri Keah Henry - Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Dr. Rick Lewis - University of Arkansas, Little Rock
  • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr - University of West Florida
  • Dr. Brenda Riley - Texas A & M University, Texarkana
  • Joshua Shadwick - Southeast Missouri State University
  • Dr. Alexander Updegrove - Texas A & M International University
• Department News, Spring 2020
  • Dr. Peter Lehmann joined our Department in the fall 2019 semester. Dr. Lehmann earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2019 and his expertise is in juvenile justice and sentencing.
  • Dr. Wyatt Brown is a new tenure-track faculty member in our Department. Dr. Brown served as a clinical assistant professor in our Department in 2018 and 2019. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2016 and specializes in the study of inequalities relative to crime and punishment, and testing criminological theories.
  • Four faculty members were promoted in fall 2019:
  • Dr. Mary Breaux was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor
  • Dr. Kathy Latz was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor
  • Dr. Erin Orrick was Tenured and promoted to Associate Professor
  • Dr. Ryan Randa was Tenured and promoted to Associate Professor
  • Dr. Dennis Longmire is celebrating his 35th year as a faculty member at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Longmire.
  • Our Department serves over 3,000 Criminal Justice and Victims Studies undergraduate majors and each semester our course enrollments top 6,000.
  • US News and World Report recently ranked our Department’s on-line graduate degree programs #2 in the United States.
  • 1,000 undergraduate students earned their degrees from our Department during the 2018-2019 academic year.
  • In fall 2020 the College of Criminal Justice will launch the Department of Victim Studies. This is the first such department in the United States.
  • Dr. Andia Azimi was selected to participate in the 2020 Summer Training Institute for Research in Child Abuse and Neglect at John Jay College in New York City.
  • Dr. Ling Ren was invited to deliver a presentation at the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP) National Forum. She will deliver a research presentation in March 2020 in Arlington, VA.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick continues her service as secretary for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
  • Dr. Willard Oliver's latest book, The Birth of the FBI: Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America’s Premier Law Enforcement Agency, was released in July 2019.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells continue to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas’ Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
  • CJ undergraduate students Carlos Ballesteros, Cydnii Richard-Daniels, and Jared Simpson are members of the SHSU Ethics Bowl team that will compete in the national championship in Atlanta in February 2020.
  • Ethan Marshall, PhD student, will participate in the ACJS Doctoral Student Summit at the annual conference in San Antonio in March 2020.
  • Five doctoral students and two undergraduate students have published research in peer-reviewed journals since the start of the spring semester.
  • Recent PhD graduates / PhD students and their academic positions:
  • Amanda Goodson - Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Tri Keah Henry - Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Joshua Shadwick - Southeast Missouri State University
  • Dr. Kate Angulski - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Ahram Cho - New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Rick Lewis - University of Arkansas, Little Rock
  • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr - University of West Florida
  • Dr. Brenda Riley - Texas A & M University, Texarkana
  • Dr. Alexander Updegrove - Texas A & M International University
• Department News, Fall 2019
  • We are hiring multiple scholars to join our faculty in fall 2020. You can find the details about the assistant professor positions here and the associate/full professor position here. Our Department is an outstanding place to positively affect the lives of undergraduate and graduates students and to conduct meaningful research.
  • Dr. Peter Lehmann joined our Department in the fall 2019 semester. Dr. Lehmann earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2019 and his expertise is in juvenile justice and sentencing.
  • Four faculty members were promoted in 2019:
  • Dr. Mary Breaux was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor
  • Dr. Kathy Latz was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor
  • Dr. Erin Orrick was Tenured and promoted to Associate Professor
  • Dr. Ryan Randa was Tenured and promoted to Associate Professor
  • Dr. Dennis Longmire is celebrating his 35th year as a faculty member at SHSU. Congratulations Dr. Longmire.
  • Our Department serves approximately 3,000 Criminal Justice and Victims Studies undergraduate majors and each semester our course enrollments top 6,000.
  • 1,000 undergraduate students earned their degrees from our Department during the 2018-2019 academic year. Our latest Undergraduate Programs Report contains additional details about our students and programs.
  • Three faculty members in our Department received College of Criminal Justice awards at the spring 2019 Honor's Convocation:
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal: Excellence in Research
  • Dr. Elisa Toman: Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
  • Dr. Michael Vaughn: Excellence in Service
  • Dr. Ling Ren received an Outstanding Mentor Award at the 2019 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference.
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal received the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Victimology Section's New Scholar Award at the 2019 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference.
  • Drs. Yan Zhang, Jason Ingram, and Bill Wells received funding this fall to serve as the research partners for the Southern District of Texas' Project Safe Neighborhoods grant.
  • Dr. Erin Orrick was elected to serve as secretary for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
  • Dr. Willard Oliver's latest book, The Birth of the FBI: Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency, was released in July 2019.
  • Dr. Mary Breaux recently completed a national credential program on effective teaching practices. The credential program is offered through the Association of College and University Educators and SHSU is the first university in Texas to join this ACUE credentialing effort.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert, Dr. Ryan Randa, and graduate students Matthias Woeckner, Nicholas Salimbene, and Ethan Marshall completed an SHSU Teaching Innovation Grant on the “Gamification of Research Methods.”
  • Graduate student news:
  • Alondra Garza, PhD student, received the Outstanding Thesis Award from the SHSU Graduate School in spring 2019.
  • Julia Gernhart, new MA student, received the SHSU Honor's College Award for Most Outstanding Senior in spring 2019.
  • Tri Keah Henry, Ph.D. student, received a Larry J. Siegel Graduate Fellowship for the Study of Gender and Crime from the American Society of Criminology Division on Women and Crime.
  • 2018-2019 PhD graduates and their academic positions:
  • Dr. Kate Angulski - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Ahram Cho - New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Rick Lewis - University of Arkansas, Little Rock
  • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr - University of West Florida
  • Dr. Brenda Riley - Texas A&M University, Texarkana
  • Dr. Alexander Updegrove - Texas A&M International University
• Department News, Summer 2019
  • A new faculty member joined our Department in the Spring 2019 semester:
    • Dr. Jay Coons earned his Ph.D. at Sam Houston State University in 2004. He recently retired after 36 years of service with the Harris County (Houston, TX) Sheriff’s Office. His expertise is in police leadership, management, and use of force.
  • Two new faculty members joined our Department in the Fall 2018 semester:
    • Dr. Andia Azimi earned her PH.D. from Georgia State University in 2018. Professor Azimi's expertise is in sexual victimization, child maltreatment, and consequences of experiencing victimization.
    • Dr. Jason Ingram earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2010. Professor Ingram's research interests include police culture, use of force policy and practice, and police supervision.
  • Our Department serves approximately 3,000 Criminal Justice and Victims Studies undergraduate majors and each semester our course enrollments top 6,000.
  • Three faculty members in our Department received College of Criminal Justice awards at the spring 2019 Honor’s Convocation:
    • Dr. Eryn O’Neal: Excellence in Research
    • Dr. Elisa Toman: Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
    • Dr. Michael Vaughn: Excellence in Service
  • Dr. Erin Orrick was elected to serve as secretary for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
  • Dr. Randy Garner was recognized by the American Jail Association during the spring semester for his many achievements and contributions to the field of corrections and jail professionals.
  • Dr. Mary Breaux recently completed a national credential program on effective teaching practices. The credential program is offered through the Association of College and University Educators and SHSU is the first university in Texas to join this ACUE credentialing effort.
  • Dr. Ling Ren received an Outstanding Mentor Award at the 2019 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference.
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal received the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Victimology Section’s New Scholar Award at the 2019 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert, Dr. Ryan Randa, and graduate students Matthias Woeckener, Nicholas Salimbene, and Ethan Marshall completed an SHSU Teaching Innovation Grant on the “Gamification of Research Methods.”
  • Dr. Mitchel P. Roth's latest book, Fire in the Big House: America’s Deadliest Prison Disaster, will be published by Ohio University Press and will be available in Fall 2019.
  • Dr. Randy Garner continues to serve as Editor of Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice.
  • Graduate student news:
    • Alondra Garza, Ph.D. student, received the Outstanding Thesis Award from the SHSU Graduate School in spring 2019.
    • Julia Gernhart, incoming MA student, received the SHSU Honor’s College Award for Most Outstanding Senior in spring 2019.
    • Tri Keah Henry, Ph.D. student, received a Larry J. Siegel Graduate Fellowship for the Study of Gender and Crime from the American Society of Criminology Division on Women and Crime.
    • Alicia Jurek, Ph.D. student, was the recipient of a research award from the Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice to attend a statistical workshop on R.
    • Shamika Kelley, Ph.D. student, won the Graduate School’s 3-Minute Thesis competition People’s Choice Award.
  • 2018-2019 PhD graduates and their academic positions:
    • Dr. Kate Angulski - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
    • Dr. Ahram Cho - New Mexico State University
    • Dr. Rick Lewis - University of Arkansas, Little Rock
    • Dr. Nicole Niebuhr - University of West Florida
    • Dr. Brenda Riley - Texas A & M University, Texarkana
    • Dr. Alexander Updegrove - Texas A & M International University
• Department News, Spring 2019
  • A new faculty member joined our Department this Spring semester:
    • Dr. Jay Coons earned his Ph.D. at Sam Houston State University in 2004. He recently retired after 36 years of service with the Harris County (Houston, TX) Sheriff’s Office. His expertise is in police leadership, management, and use of force.
  • Two new faculty members joined our Department in the Fall semester:
    • Dr. Andia Azimi earned her PH.D. from Georgia State University in 2018. Professor Azimi's expertise is in sexual victimization, child maltreatment, and consequences of experiencing victimization.
    • Dr. Jason Ingram earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2010. Professor Ingram's research interests include police culture, use of force policy and practice, and police supervision.
  • Our Department serves approximately 3,000 Criminal Justice and Victims Studies undergraduate majors and each semester our course enrollments top 6,000.
  • Graduate student news:
    • Tri Keah Henry, 4th year Ph.D. student, was the recipient of the ASC's Division on People of Color and Crime Norman White Outstanding Student Paper Award for her solo-authored work entitled "Six Degrees of Separation: The Influence of Direct and Indirect Contacts with Law Enforcement on Perceptions of Procedural Justice."
    • Alicia Jurek, 4th year Ph.D. student, was the recipient of ASC's Division on Women and Crime 2018 Graduate Student Poster Competition for her poster "Female Representation in U.S. Police Departments: 1980 – 2010."
    • Joshua Shadwick, 3rd year Ph.D. student, was selected to participate in the 2019 ACJS Doctoral Student Summit in Baltimore, MD.
    • Katherine Meeker, 1st year Ph.D. student, was the recipient of ASC's Division on Women and Crime 2018 Graduate Student Paper Award for her paper "Arrest and Filing Charges: An Examination of Police and Prosecutor Decision Making in Adolescent Sexual Assault Case Processing."
  • Dr. Solomon Zhao is the recipient of the SHSU 2018 Faculty Excellence Award in Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments. This is the highest research distinction awarded by SHSU.
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal will receive the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Victimology Section’s New Scholar Award at the 2019 ACJS conference.
  • Chelsi Lamberton won the 2018 Outstanding Poster Award at the Undergraduate Research Symposium sponsored by Sam Houston State University. Her project was supervised by Dr. Daniel Butler.
  • Dr. Ling Ren serves as the research partner for a federally-funded project in collaboration with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. The two-year grant provides prosecutors with resources and opportunities to implement innovative, data-driven prosecution strategies that aim to curtail prescription opioid misuse and diversion in the county. Dr. Ren will conduct an independent assessment of the objectives the program intends to achieve.
  • Dr. Eric Connolly, undergraduate students Makayla Mason and Camille Ingham, and doctoral student Xinting Wang traveled to Hangzhou, China in the fall semester to collect survey data about Chinese police cadets’ knowledge of domestic violence. Dr. Connolly and Dr. Brittany Hayes led this research effort.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert and Dr. Elisa Toman were part of the first cohort of faculty at SHSU to complete a national credential program on effective teaching practices. The credential program is offered through the Association of College and University Educators and SHSU is the first university in Texas to join this ACUE credentialing effort.
  • Dr. Mitchel P. Roth's latest book, Fire in the Big House: America’s Deadliest Prison Disaster, is in press and will be published by Ohio University Press.
• Department News, Fall 2018
  • Two new faculty members joined our Department this semester:
    • Dr. Andia Azimi earned her PH.D. from Georgia State University in 2018. Professor Azimi's expertise is in sexual victimization, child maltreatment, and consequences of experiencing victimization.
    • Dr. Jason Ingram earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2010. Professor Ingram's research interests include police culture, use of force policy and practice, and police supervision.
  • Dr. Solomon Zhao is the recipient of the SHSU 2018 Faculty Excellence Award in Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments. This is the highest research distinction awarded by SHSU.
  • Dr. Eric Connolly, undergraduate students Makayla Mason and Camille Ingham, and doctoral student Xinting Wang will travel to Hangzhou, China this fall to collect survey data about Chinese police cadets ' knowledge of domestic violence. Dr. Connolly and Dr. Brittany Hayes are leading this research effort.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert and Dr. Elisa Toman are part of the first cohort of faculty at SHSU to complete a national credential program on effective teaching practices. The credential program is offered through the Association of College and University Educators and SHSU is the first university in Texas to join this ACUE credentialing effort.
  • Dr. Mitch Roth's latest book, Fire in the Big House: The Forgotten Story of the Ohio Penitentiary Fire of 1930, America's Deadliest Prison Disaster and Its Aftermath, is in press and will be published by Ohio University Press. Fire in the Big House, with the fire as its centerpiece, explores the lives of convicts, corrections officers and the warden, the rise of the Big House prison, political patronage, prison violence, as well as penal history and reform in Ohio and America.
  • Dr. Brittany Hayes and Dr. Eryn O'Neal won the 2017 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Outstanding Paper Award and were recognized at the 2018 ACJS conference. They co-authored a paper titled "The Effects of Individual- and National-Level Factors on Attitudes toward Child Maltreatment," which has been accepted for publication in Child Abuse and Neglect.
  • Dr. Holly Miller's book about sexual crimes and offending is in press. Oxford University Press is publishing this important book that presents new research-based information about several misconceptions, myths, and unsubstantiated claims surrounding sexual offenders and their crimes. Be on the lookout for Sexual Offending: Research, Policy, and Practice.
  • Our Department serves approximately 3,000 Criminal Justice and Victims Studies undergraduate majors and each semester our course enrollments top 6,000.
    • Between Fall 2011 and Spring 2018, the number of undergraduate Criminal Justice and Victim Studies Majors increased 22%.
    • Compared to Fall 2017, student enrollments in our course sections in Fall 2018 grew by 5%.
  • Graduate student news:
    • Doctoral student Layne Dittman received the SHSU Outstanding Teaching Assistant award in the spring 2018 semester.
    • Doctoral student Ethan Marshall was runner-up in the spring 2018 SHSU 3-Minutes Thesis competition.
    • The following Ph.D. graduates will begin faculty appointments in Fall 2018:
      • Maisha Cooper (University of North Carolina - Charlotte)
      • Jia Di (Metropolitan State University of Denver)
      • Rick Lewis (University of Arkansas Little Rock)
      • Kallee McCullough (California State University Bakersfield)
      • Meghan Mitchell (University of Central Florida)
      • Jun Wu (Angelo State University)
• Department News, Summer 2018
  • In the spring 2018 semester, we welcomed a new faculty member. Dr. Wyatt Brown is a Clinical Assistant Professor and serves as the Program Coordinator for our top-ranked M.S. On-Line graduate degree program. Dr. Brown earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2016 and specializes in the study of inequalities relative to crime and punishment, and testing criminological theories.
  • Dr. Solomon Zhao is the recipient of the SHSU 2018 Faculty Excellence Award in Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments. This is the highest research distinction awarded by SHSU.
  • Dr. Brittany Hayes and Dr. Eryn O’Neal won the 2017 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Outstanding Paper Award and were recognized at the 2018 ACJS conference. They co-authored a paper titled “The Effects of Individual- and National-Level Factors on Attitudes toward Child Maltreatment.”
  • Dr. Mitchel P. Roth’s latest book, Fire in the Big House: The Forgotten Story of the Ohio Penitentiary Fire of 1930, America's Deadliest Prison Disaster and Its Aftermath, is in press and will be published by Ohio University Press. Fire in the Big House, with the fire as its centerpiece, explores the lives of convicts, corrections officers and the warden, the rise of the Big House prison, political patronage, prison violence, as well as penal history and reform in Ohio and America. It is also about much more, the fire’s causes and its human aftermath, stories of lives put at risk because of tightfisted economic and political decisions.
  • The CJ Bio Lab, a cross-disciplinary working group with faculty and students from various departments, is currently processing over 500 biological/genetic samples to examine the genetic and environmental influences on a variety of delinquent and criminal behaviors.
  • Dr. Holly Miller’s book about sexual crimes and offending is in press. Oxford University Press is publishing this important book that presents new research-based information about several misconceptions, myths, and unsubstantiated claims surrounding sexual offenders and their crimes. Be on the lookout for Sexual Offending: Research, Policy, and Practice.
  • Our Department continues to serve a large undergraduate student population. Since Fall 2011, the number of undergraduate Criminal Justice and Victim Studies Majors increased 22%.
  • Graduate student news:
    • Doctoral student Layne Dittman received the SHSU Outstanding Teaching Assistant award in the spring 2018 semester.
    • Doctoral student Ethan Marshall was runner-up in the spring 2018 SHSU 3-Minutes Thesis competition.
    • The following Ph.D. graduates will begin faculty appointments in Fall 2018:
      • Maisha Cooper (University of North Carolina - Charlotte)
      • Jia Di (Metropolitan State University of Denver)
      • Rick Lewis (University of Arkansas Little Rock)
      • Kallee McCullough (California State University Bakersfield)
      • Meghan Mitchell (University of Central Florida)
      • Jun Wu (Angelo State University)
• Department News, Spring 2018
  • This spring we welcome a new faculty member. Dr. Wyatt Brown is a Clinical Assistant Professor and will serve as the Program Coordinator for our top-ranked M.S. On-Line graduate degree program. Dr. Brown earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2016 and specializes in the study of inequalities relative to crime and punishment, and testing criminological theories.
  • Two tenure-track assistant professors joined our Department in the Fall semester:
  • Dr. Eric Connolly earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2014. Professor Connolly is a biosocial criminologist who studies antisocial behavior, development and life-course theories of crime, and gangs and gang-related behaviors.
  • Dr. Elisa Toman earned her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2017. Professor Toman’s expertise is in theories of punishment, trends in criminal sentencing, and inmates' experiences with the corrections system.
  • Dr. Brittany Hayes received the 2017 American Society of Criminology, Division of Victimology, Researcher of the Year Award.
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal received the 2017 American Society of Criminology, Division of Women and Crime, New Scholar Award.
  • Dr. Hayes and Dr. O'Neal won the 2017 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Outstanding Paper Award and will be recognized at the 2018 ACJS conference in February. They co-authored a paper titled "The Effects of Individual- and National-Level Factors on Attitudes toward Child Maltreatment."
  • Dr. Ryan Randa received an Outstanding Mentor Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for his work with students and colleagues. He will be recognized at the 2018 ACJS conference in February.
  • Dr. Holly Miller's book about sexual crimes and offending is in press. Oxford University Press is publishing this important book that presents new research-based information about several misconceptions, myths, and unsubstantiated claims surrounding sexual offenders and their crimes. Be on the lookout for Sexual Offending: Research, Policy, and Practice.
  • Dr. Lisa Muftić received a grant from the Children's Justice Act and Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas. She and her research team are measuring the prevalence of crimes committed against children that are reported directly to law enforcement that are not Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) involved.
  • Since Fall 2011, the number of undergraduate Criminal Justice and Victim Studies Majors increased 22%.
  • 737 undergraduate students earned their degrees from our Department in the 2016-2017 academic year.
  • During the 2016-2017 academic year, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology faculty supervised 65 Honors Contracts for undergraduate students in the SHSU Honor's College.
  • Ph.D. Alumnus, Dr. Patrick Brady, received this year’s New Scholar Award from the Victimology Section of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
  • In the 2016-2017 academic year, faculty in the Department applied for external research funding in the amount of $1.42 million. The proposed research included studies on suicide prevention in jails, stress among correctional officers, police responses to domestic violence, and an evaluation of court-based a prostitution prevention program.
• Department News, Fall 2017
  • Two tenure-track assistant professors joined our Department this semester:
  • Dr. Eric Connolly earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2014. Professor Connolly is a biosocial criminologist who studies antisocial behavior, development and life-course theories of crime, and gangs and gang-related behaviors.
  • Dr. Elisa Toman earned her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 2017. Professor Toman’s expertise is in theories of punishment, trends in criminal sentencing, and inmates’ experiences with the corrections system.
  • Dr. Daniel Butler received the College of Criminal Justice Award for Excellence in Teaching for the 2016-2017 academic year.
  • Dr. Cortney Franklin was appointed Director of the Crime Victims Institute (CVI) at SHSU and Dr. Brittany Hayes was appointed to serve as Assistant Director of CVI
  • Dr. Erin Orrick was appointed Director of Research for the Correctional Management Institute of Texas at SHSU.
  • Dr. Mike Vaughn is collaborating with undergraduate students who will deliver research presentations at the Southwest Criminal Justice Association conference in Fort Worth.
  • Dr. Brandy Blasko served as a mentor to Criminal Justice student Cristal Hernandez, who is a McNair Scholar at SHSU. Ms. Hernandez will present her research at SHSU on September 21.
  • During the 2016-2017 academic year, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology faculty supervised 65 Honors Contracts for undergraduate students in the SHSU Honor's College.
  • Dr. Ling Ren and Doctoral Student Joshua Shadwick are collaborating with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office on a project to better understand prescription drug-related problems in Montgomery County.
  • Dr. Lisa Muftić and a team of graduate students are conducting a study to measure the prevalence of crimes committed against children that are reported directly to law enforcement that are not Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) involved. The project is being funded through grants from the Children’s Justice Act and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas.
  • With funding from the National Institute of Justice, Dr. Yan Zhang presented research findings at the 2017 International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) conference. She also presented research findings at the 2016 IACA conference.
  • Ph.D. Alumnus, Dr. Kelly Damphousse, was recently appointed to the position of Chancellor of the Arkansas State University System.
  • In the 2016-2017 academic year, faculty in the Department applied for external research funding in the amount of $1.42 million. The proposed research included studies on suicide prevention in jails, stress among correctional officers, police responses to domestic violence, and an evaluation of court-based a prostitution prevention program.
• Department News, Spring 2017
  • Two tenure-track assistant professors joined our Department this academic year:
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal earned her Ph.D. from Arizona State University. Eryn's research interests include intimate partner sexual assault, arrest and charging decisions in sexual assault and intimate partner cases, and post-structural approaches in feminist theory.
  • Mr. Daniel Butler earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Daniel is engaged in cutting edge research related to administrative segregation and institutional and community corrections.
  • Drs. Brittany Hayes and Erin Orrick received 2017 ACJS and Sage Junior Faculty Professional Development Teaching Awards.
  • In February, Dr. Ling Ren started collaborating with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office on a project to better understand prescription drug-related problems in Montgomery County.
  • This summer, Dr. Melinda Tasca, Dr. Daniel Butler, and a team of graduate students will begin research on correctional officer stress in TDCJ. This is part of a multi-state study led by Arizona State University and funded by the National Institute of Justice.
  • Dr. Lisa Muftić currently serves as the Survivors Acquiring Freedom & Empowerment (SAFE) Court Research Partner, a BJA funded smart prosecution diversion program for young adults arrested for misdemeanor prostitution (sellers) in Harris County.
  • Dr. Willard Oliver's most recent book, August Vollmer: The Father of American Policing, was published early this year by Carolina Academic Press.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert, in collaboration with faculty and students from across campus, is analyzing biological data from over 600 undergraduate students to study how biology and the environment interact to predict antisocial behaviors.
  • Dr. Ryan Randa continues his service as co-editor of the Journal of School Violence, which is published by Taylor & Francis.
  • In 2016, faculty in our Department published research findings in high-impact journals, including Crime & Delinquency, Criminal Justice and Behavior, Deviant Behavior, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, Justice Quarterly, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
  • Dr. Edward Maguire from Arizona State University will visit the Department in April to deliver a Beto Chair Lecture.
  • In February, Dr. Keramet Reiter from the University of California - Irvine delivered a guest lecture to faculty and students about her work on restrictive housing in Pelican Bay Prison in California.
• Department News, Fall 2016
  • Two new tenure-track assistant professors joined our Department this semester:
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal from Arizona State University. Eryn's research interests include intimate partner sexual assault, arrest and charging decisions in sexual assault and intimate partner cases, and post-structural approaches in feminist theory.
  • Mr. Daniel Butler from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Daniel is engaged in cutting edge research related to administrative segregation and institutional and community corrections.
  • Dr. Melinda Tasca learned this semester that she was awarded a W.E.B. Du Bois Fellowship by the National Institute of Justice. Her study will examine the influence of race, ethnicity, and gender in restrictive housing decisions, a consequential form of punishment during incarceration.
  • Dr. Cortney Franklin is leading an effort, in collaboration with the Houston Police Department, to evaluate system-wide training designed to improve police responses to family violence and sexual assault.
  • Dr. Danielle Boisvert, in collaboration with faculty and students, is collecting various biological measures and genetic samples to study how biology and the environment interact to predict antisocial behaviors.
  • Dr. Yan Zhang presented research findings at the 2016 International Association of Crime Analysts conference.
  • Dr. Michael Vaughn was awarded the 2016 ACJS Academy Fellow Award.
  • Dr. Mitchell Roth published his 16th book, Convict Cowboys: The Untold History of the Texas Prison Rodeo.
  • NIJ Director Nancy Rodriguez (and SHSU alum) will visit the College of Criminal Justice in late October to meet with students, faculty, and administrators.
  • Meghan Mitchell, a 4th year Ph.D. student, was awarded a Bureau of Justice Statistics Graduate Research Fellowship to support her dissertation research which evaluates the implications of the convict code on prisoner misconduct, victimization, and attitudes related to reentry.
  • Alicia Jurek, a 2nd year Ph.D. student, won the 2016 outstanding graduate student paper competition at the Midwest Criminal Justice Association conference.
  • Nicole Niebuhr, a 2nd year Ph.D. student, won the 2016 ACJS Corrections Section's Dr. Kelly Cheeseman Student Paper Award.
  • Rachael Falgout, a senior Criminal Justice and Criminology major, won the outstanding undergraduate paper competition at the Midwest Criminal Justice Association conference.
  • Last year, the Department received over $1.8 million dollars of grant funding.
  • Many of our Ph.D. graduates are landing great jobs. Since 2010, six graduates of our Ph.D. program accepted jobs in Criminal Justice and/or Criminology departments that also offer a Ph.D.
• Department News, Summer 2016
  • Last year, the Department received over $1.8 million dollars of grant funding.
  • Two new tenure-track assistant professors will be joining the Department in August 2016:
  • Mr. Daniel Butler from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Daniel is engaged in cutting edge research related to administrative segregation and institutional and community corrections.
  • Dr. Eryn O'Neal from Arizona State University. Eryn's research interests include intimate partner sexual assault, arrest and charging decisions in sexual assault and intimate partner cases, and post-structural approaches in feminist theory.
  • SHSU honored Dr. Larry Hoover with the title of Distinguished Professor. He is only the third faculty member from the College of Criminal Justice to receive this designation.
  • Dr. Michael Vaughn was awarded the 2016 ACJS Academy Fellow Award.
  • Dr. Lisa Muftić won the 2015 Faculty Researcher of the Year award from ASC's Division of Victimology.
  • Dr. Ryan Randa was appointed co-Editor of the Journal of School Violence.
  • Dr. Melinda Tasca was elected to the Executive Board of ASC's Division of Corrections and Sentencing.
  • Nicole Niebuhr, a 2nd year Ph.D. student, won the 2016 ACJS Corrections Section's Dr. Kelly Cheeseman Student Paper Award.
  • Alicia Jurek, a 2nd year Ph.D. student, was awarded the 2015 Outstanding Graduate Student Paper by the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association.
  • Many of our Ph.D. graduates are also landing great jobs. Since 2010, six graduates of our Ph.D. program accepted jobs in Criminal Justice and/or Criminology departments that also offer a Ph.D.