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 kte001@shsu.edu 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.