Criminal Justice Update
Fall Semester 2008 is off to a fast start and there is a lot of activity and news to report from the Criminal Justice Department. First, we welcome several new members of the faculty. Last year’s faculty search paid off, with three tenure-track assistant professors and two additional full-time instructors. Our new assistant professors are Richard Hartley (Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Omaha), Marie S. Tillyer (ABD, University of Cincinnati), and Robert Tillyer (Ph.D., University of Cincinnati). Dr. Thomas Babcock continues to direct the internship program but is now also offering courses on a semester basis.
These hires will both bolster the Department’s research capabilities while diversifying instruction in the classroom. Along with additional new full time faculty member Mr. Robert Rico (M.P.A., UTSA; Boerne Police Department), we are also proud to announce that San Antonio Police Chief William McManus (M.S.M., Johns Hopkins University) and Deputy Chief Geraldine Garcia (MSJPY, UTSA), have also joined the Department as adjunct instructors. In all, these new faculty significantly enhance the department and connect the academic and real worlds of criminal justice.
On the topic of personnel, two note worthy events transpired over the summer. Michael Tapia (Ph.D., Ohio State University) successfully defended his dissertation and is now among those who achieved a terminally degree in his field. Also, Roger Enriquez (J. D., University of Iowa) was awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor.
The Department enters the academic year with steady enrollment in both the undergraduate (approximately 800 students) and graduate programs (65 students). Roger Enriquez is directing the graduate program which welcomes 26 incoming students, several from out-of-state. We are continuing to match all graduate students with a faculty member as an advising resource and are placing course availability for both the undergraduate and graduate programs through 2011 online toward bettering both retention and time-to-graduation. A faculty committee is also developing a five-year plan whereby future students can pursue the bachelors and masters degree in a slightly condensed timeframe.
The Department has been heavily engaged in research, much of which connects to the local community. Currently, we are engaged in a range of juvenile and criminal justice system betterment initiatives with numerous local agencies and organizations. Our community partners include Bexar County, the San Antonio Police Department, Haven for Hope, the San Antonio River Authority, Bexar County Juvenile Probation and Edgewood Independent School District.
The Department will be co-hosting the Second National Conference on Restorative Justice at the UTSA Downtown Campus summer 2009. Planning is in full stride under the direction of Michael Gilbert.
I hope everyone has a great semester! Please contact the Department if we may be of assistance or provide additional information.
Submitted by J. M. Miller, Ph.D., Professor and Chair,
Department of Criminal Justice.
501 West Durango Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78207 PH (210) 458-2530 FAX (210) 458-2431