Today@Sam Article

SHSU College of Criminal Justice Professor Concludes Term as President of International Organization

March 25, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd

Bitna Kim, a professor at the Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice (SHSU CJ) and director of SHSU CJ’s International Initiatives, recently saw her term as president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) come to a close. As she moves into her new role of ACJS past president, Kim is reflecting on her successful tenure and how her time at the helm of the organization impacted her personally.

“This was a great learning experience for me,” Kim said. “When I learned someone was planning to nominate me, I kept saying I wasn’t ready. But I realized not everyone gets a chance to serve in a leadership position, especially for such a highly regarded organization in the field of criminal justice.”

ACJS is an international organization committed to transforming justice through research, education, and practice, serving both criminal justice scholars and professionals.

Kim’s leadership tenure began in 2022 as ACJS’s second vice president and as first vice president in 2023 before serving as president from March 2024 through March 2025.

At the conclusion of the 2025 annual meeting, Kim began her tenure ACJS immediate past president. She also recently assumed the role of editor-in-chief for the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology (IJOTCC), and continues to serve as  faculty director of international initiatives for the Office of Comparative and International Education and Leadership (OCIEL) and will serve as chair for the International Criminology Division of the American Society of Criminology beginning November 2025

As she reflects on her ACJS presidency, Kim says her SHSU CJ colleagues provided a strong foundation which allowed her to flourish.

"The ACJS annual meeting was a tremendous success. I was especially proud to highlight the spirit and achievements of SHSU CJ,” Kim said. “The success of this year’s conference would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our college leadership team and staff, the dedication of faculty and staff in our departments and the enthusiasm of our students. Seeing our Bearkat community come together in such a meaningful way reaffirmed my pride in being part of the SHSU CJ family."

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