Today@Sam Article

COCJ Dean Fulfills Lifelong Goal

April 28, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Kim Foster

Phillip Lyons has a new entry for his list of accomplishments over the course of his distinguished career. For the first time since earning his Juris Doctorate (JD) in 1994, the Dean for the SHSU College of Criminal Justice (COCJ) has recently taken and passed the bar exam and is officially an attorney in the State of Texas.

Lyons was sworn in as an attorney during the annual COCJ Honors Convocation Ceremony on April 24 with the Honorable Tracy Sorensen, Presiding Judge of the 278th Judicial District Court and a Bearkat alumna, who administered the oath.

“Becoming an attorney has been on my ‘to-do’ list for some time,” Lyons said. “It was rapidly migrating to my bucket list. It was time.”

Lyons earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in forensic clinical psychology and JD degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

His career accomplishments include a year-long, pre-doctoral internship in forensic clinical psychology at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth and law enforcement officer in Brazoria County, Texas.

He joined the COCJ faculty at SHSU in 1995 as an assistant professor and later served in several leadership roles, including executive director for the Center for Policing Innovation.

In 2015, he was officially named the sixth dean for COCJ after serving in an interim capacity for a year.

When his tenure at SHSU eventually concludes, Lyons says it will not mark the end of his career. It will be the beginning of a new chapter while continuing to serve the community.

“When I retire from Sam Houston State, I will be able to work pro bono and pursue law in the public interest,” Lyons said. “The oath of office I took at 62 to become an attorney bears striking resemblance to the oath I took at 19 to become a peace officer. Both entail a commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.”

Lyons hopes the path his career has taken demonstrates an example for all students who have and will pass through the doors of the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center.

“It’s really just a matter of living our values. We encourage our students to follow their passions, become life-long learners and serve others,” Lyons said. “Our students value learning from people who have ‘been there and done that.’ I hope to partner up with some of our alumni in Montgomery and Harris County so I can be there and do that.”

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