New Faculty for Fall 2009
Vol. V
April / May 2009
Sam Houston State University
College of Criminal Justice
CJ Grad Newsletter
.Summer 2009 Registration Currently Underway
Summer I Registration: March 20-May 8Summer II Registration: March 20-June 26
Doctoral Annual Reviews
Doctoral Annual Reviews will begin June2, 2009, and will be conducted by the newAssistant Dean for Graduate Studies andDirector of the CJ Doctoral Program, Dr.Michael Vaughn. Students may sign up fora review time beginning May 12, 2009with Karen Eads at [email protected] or bystopping by her office located in A208.Students should submit a self-assessmentform and an updated vita.
The purpose of the annual review is to as-sist students in the timely completion oftheir doctoral degree and to advise them oftheir progress on an annual basis. The re-view should be viewed as a positive proc-ess where students gain feedback that theyare making good progress. In situationswhere students are not making satisfactoryprogress, the review will identify short-comings and specify what steps should betaken to remedy the situation. Each reviewwill contain an evaluation of academic per-formance, professional development, re-search progress, and timeliness to comple-tion of degree.
Four new faculty will bejoining the College ofCriminal Justice in Fall 2009.Drs. Jeffrey A. Bouffard,Leana A. Bouffard, KathleenA. Fox, and William R. King.
Dr. Jeffrey A. Bouffardearned his Ph.D. inCriminology and CriminalStudies from the Universityof Maryland College Park,his M.A. in ClinicalPsychology from St.Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, and hisB.A. in Psychology from Suffolk University inBoston. He has previously taught at Washington StateUniversity, Pullman.
Dr. Leana A. Bouffard comes to us fromWashington State University, Pullman. She earned herPh.D. and M.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justicefrom the University of Maryland College Park and herB.S. in Psychology from Duke University.
Dr. Kathleen Fox received her Ph.D. and M.A. inCriminology, Law & Society from the University ofFlorida, and her B.S. in Sociology with a concentrationin Criminal Justice and Corrections from the Universityof Utah. Her research and teaching interests includevictimization, gangs, corrections, fear of crime,research methods, and gender.
Dr. William R. King earned his Ph.D.and M.S. in Criminal Justice from theUniversity of Cincinnati and his B.S.in Criminal Justice from the Universityof Massachusetts at Lowell. Dr. Kingcomes to us from Bowling GreenState University.
Doctoral Research
Portfolio NewsCongratulations to Joe Serio for successfully
defending his research assessment portfolio
entitled, “Transnational Crime.” Portfolio
committee members were Dr. Willard Oliver
(chair), Dr. Mitchel Roth, and Dr. Jurg Gerber.
Non-portfolio faculty member observers were
Dr. Victoria Titterington, Dr. Dennis Long-
mire, and Dr. Travis Franklin.
Kudos to Amanda Johnson for successfully
defending her research assessment portfolio.
Her committee members were Dr. Michael
Vaughn (chair), Dr. Rolando del Carmen, and
Dr. Yan Zhang. Non-portfolio faculty mem-
ber observers were Dr. Howard Henderson,
Dr. William Wells, and Dr. Solomon Zhao.
Effective with the Summer Semester Dr. MichaelVaughn will assume the role of Assistant Deanfor Graduate Studies and Director of the CJ Doc-toral Program. Most of you are aware that mytenure as Assistant Dean this year has been on aninterim basis, substituting for Dr. Victoria Titter-ington. Dr. Titterington’s decision to return to thefaculty on a full-time basis was, of course, engen-dered by health concerns. She did an outstanding job during her time in the As-sistant Dean role. She is to be commended for her dedication to quality graduateeducation in the College and fostering program development on several fronts.Dr. Vaughn inherits a strong graduate program, growing stronger each year.
We received a large number of applicants for fall admission to each of the mas-ter’s degree programs and doctoral study. New doctoral program students willtotal at least twelve, three of whom are international students. The Master’s inForensic Science program continues to draw outstanding physical science bacca-laureate graduates from throughout the country.
Because the Texas Legislature still has not approved a final budget bill, we do notyet know what level of financial support will be available for graduate assistant-ships in the fall. However, the economic downturn has not yet had a substantialimpact upon state revenues. Preliminary indications are that higher educationbudgets will remain at least at current levels, with a good chance of some in-crease. We are optimistic that we will be able to continue and perhaps enhancethis year’s level of financial support for graduate study. I look forward to continu-ing to work with the College’s graduate students in my regular faculty role.
Congratulations to the following students who will
graduate on May 16, 2009:
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Master’s ProgramCongratulations to…Blake Davis for successfully defending
his thesis prospectus entitled, “Sports Par-
ticipation and Illegal Behavior.” His chair
is Dr. Scott Menard.
Redford Hong for successfully defending
his thesis prospectus entitled, “Assessing
Behavioral Changes in the New People’s
Army: An Interrupted Time-Series Analy-
sis of Counterinsurgency Operations.” His
chair is Dr. Mitchel Roth.
Melissa Mauck for successfully defend-
ing her thesis prospectus, “They Didn’t
Even Dust the Lawn for Fingerprints: How
C.S.I. and Other Crime Dramas Have Af-
fected the Court System and Jury Deci-
sions.” Her chair is Dr. Phillip Lyons.
Andrea Weiss for successfully defending
her thesis prospectus entitled,
“Socioeconomic Status and Deviance: An
Application of Control Balance Theory.”
Her chair is Dr. Phillip Lyons.
CJ Grad Newsletter
Congratulations Graduates!!!
From the Assistant Dean forGraduate Studies
Doctoral
Vesna Markovic
Master of Science
Security Studies
Mark Bull
Swiss Jarernpol
Scott Mitchell
Jake Nelson
Master of Science in
Criminal Justice
Emily Eisenman
Celia Hoelke
Marsha Hunter
Master of Science in Forensic Science
Colin Anderson
Kristen Cossota
Harry Ross Ehmann
Brittany Hardy
Nicole Harre
Jennifer Hogue
Randy Jackson
Jamie Jouett
Jeffrey Kelly
Ashley Mullings
Ridhima Rao
Chelsy Wingate
Preston Wong
Shemesh (toxicology) will be interning at theSouthwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas,Texas. Essence Brice (latent) will be going to theMontgomery County Sheriff’s Office in Conroe, Texas.
Karin Harbers, Security Studies major, will completean internship with the law office of Linda Burke Diersin LaGrange, Texas.
Jake Nelson will complete his Security Studiesinternship with Immigration and CustomsEnforcement’s (ICE) Detention and Removal divisionon June 1, 2009.
Andrew Link, Security Studies major, will becompleting an internship with the Rowlett PoliceDepartment in Rowlett, Texas.
In today's competitive job market, there's nosubstitute for practical work experience. Gettingmeaningful work experience in your major field ofstudy or career interest should be a number onepriority—a vital part of college.
Internships allow you to get your foot in the door,build your résumé, earn money for college expenses,make valuable contacts, and much more.
Several forensic science students will be completinginternships over the summer. Lyndsi Ayers (trace),Breanna Jatzlau (toxicology), and Jennifer Sycalik(DNA) will be interning at the Harris CountyMedical Examiner’s Office in Houston, Texas.Mario Galioto (DNA) will be working at the AustinPolice Department in Austin, Texas. Colby
Page 3
Internships:
Graduate Students Leveraging Careers
Congratulations to the following students for being selected to receive doctoral student fellowships for
Summer 2009:
Student Faculty Sponsor Research Topic
Michael Cavanaugh Dr. Gaylene Armstrong Fort Bend County DWI Court Evaluation
Nick Harpster Dr. Gaylene Armstrong Influence of External and Internal Support Systems on the
Psychological Functioning of Incarcerated Adolescent
Felony Offenders
Yung-Lien Lai Dr. Jihong Zhao Determinants of Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Police in Houston
Hoon Lee Dr. Michael Vaughn Police Code of Silence and Legal Liability
Napoleon Reyes Dr. Jurg Gerber National Prosecutions of Heads of State
Chantal VanReeuwyk Dr. Holly Miller Successful, Unsuccessful, and Subclinical Psychopathy
Ling Wu Dr. William Wells Near-repeat Shootings and Deterrent Effects
Vol. V
Doctoral Research Summer Fellowships
Upcoming Events
May 8 Annual CJ Picnic 11:00am-2:00pm Intramural Field #2
May 16 Commencement 10:00am Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum
June 2 Doctoral Annual Reviews begin
June 9 First Class Day of Summer I 2009
2009 Graduate Scholarship Recipients
The Honors Convocation was held on Thursday, April 23, 2009, at 7:00pm in the CJ Auditorium.Congratulations to the following graduate students for being awarded endowed scholarships:
Ji Seun Sohn – Dan Beto Scholarship
Billy Humphrey – Canfield Scholarship
Seksan Khruakham – del Carmen Scholarship
Joongyeup Lee – del Carmen Scholarship
Ling Wu - del Carmen Scholarship
Pierre Rivolta – del Carmen Scholarship
Mario Galioto – Dyer Scholarship
Cassandra Atkin – Ellis Gibbs Scholarship
Valerie Mahfood – Ellis Gibbs Scholarship
Erica Walker – Friel Scholarship
Jessica McClure – Killinger Scholarship
Ross Ehmann – LTC Michael A. Lytle Prize in Forensic Science
Claire Nolasco – Strecher Scholarship
Michael Cavanaugh – Weisenhorn Scholarship
Michael Herb – 100 Club Doctoral Scholarship
Ph.D.’s Secure Faculty Positions for Fall 2009
Congratulations to Amanda Johnson. Amanda has accepted a position as an Assistant Professor with theUniversity of Texas Permian Basin, beginning Fall 2009.
Congratulations to Jiletta Kubena. Jiletta has accepted a position as an Assistant Professor at Our Lady ofthe Lake University in San Antonio.
Ph.D. Alum Che Williamson-Herron (left) presents the
Rolando V. del Carmen (right) Criminal Justice
Scholarship to Pierre Rivolta (middle).
College of Criminal JusticeAnnual Spring Picnic 2009
The College of Criminal Justice will host its Annual Spring Picnic on Friday,
May 8, 2009 from 11:00am to 2:00pm at Intramural Field #2. This year’s
theme will be Caribbean. Students are asked to show up in their best Carib-
bean-themed shirt and ready to listen to the rhythmic sounds of SHSU’s own
Steel Drum Band. Games, free food, and lots of prizes will be provided. Stu-
dents are also encouraged to bring their softball gloves for the annual faculty/
student softball game. Jerk chicken and other traditional Caribbean food will
be served. For more information, please contact
Dr. Willard Oliver at 294-4173.