SHSU Adds Faculty in Criminal Justice, Homeland Security

The College of Criminal Justice will welcome five new faculty members in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and the Department of Security Studies this fall.

Changing of the Guard at the College of Criminal Justice

After serving as Dean of the College of Criminal Justice and Director of the Criminal Justice Center for eight years, Dr. Vincent J. Webb is stepping down to become a full-time faculty member. Dr. Phillip Lyons, a longtime professor at the College, will serve as Interim Dean during a nationwide search for a successor.

“It has been a real privilege to serve as Dean and Director since coming to Sam in 2006,” said Dr. Webb. “This faculty and staff have been great to work with -- they simply are the best! The criminal justice/center faculty, staff, and alumni can take pride in all that they have accomplished and they can look forward to a very bright future.”

Dr. Phillip Lyons (r) speaks at the Sundial Ceremony.Dr. Lyons joined the faculty of Sam Houston State University in 1995 and has served in several leadership positions at the College, most recently as Chair of the Depart- ment of Security Studies and as Director of Professional Justice Studies, which links professionals in the field with educational opportunities offered at the College. He also served as Executive Director for the Center for Policing Innovation, one of 17 Community Policing Institutes nationwide that provides training and technical assistance on a variety of community policing and other timely law enforcement topics to state, local and tribal agencies. . . . Read more . . .

Agencies Share Latest Gang Intelligence

Officers from corrections, parole, probation and law enforcement gathered at the Correctional Management Institute (CMIT) at Sam Houston State University in July to get the latest information on violent gangs and other extremist groups operating in rural regions of Texas.

TDCJ Employees Advance Education with Scholarship

Capt. William Wheat of the TDCJ Beto Academy.

Like Dr. George J. Beto, one of the founders of the College of Criminal Justice, Capt. William Wheat wants to be an agent of change for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

SHSU Earns High marks for Online Programs for Veterans

Several of Sam Houston State University’s online programs performed very well in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of 2014 Best Online Programs for Veterans, announced on May 20.

SHSU online programs ranked No. 2 for “Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs for Veterans,” No. 5 for “Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans,” No. 12 for “Best Online Graduate Business Programs for Veterans,” and No. 15 for “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.”

The university’s ranking in graduate education programs places it near the top of the overall list of 44 institutions recognized in that category; the online bachelor’s programs rankings included 69 institutions, with SHSU’s rank in the top quarter of all schools on the list. . . . Read more . . .

Genes/Adversity Linked to Crime in Incarcerated Sample

Dr. Todd Armstrong studies the links between genes and crime.

Researchers at Sam Houston State University have found a genetic characteristics that interacts with childhood adversity to predict higher rates of crime in an incarcerated sample.

New Certificate Programs Approved for College

The TSUS Board of Regents recently met at SHSU. Photo by Brian Blalock

The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved two new certificate programs for the College of Criminal Justice -- emergency management and critical infrastructure protection.

To learn more about new degree programs at Sam Houston State University, visit . . . Read more . . .