Alumni Updates
By Veronica Gonzalez Hoff
The College of Criminal Justice welcomed 300 undergraduate students and 54 graduate students into our esteemed alumni group from our May 2019 commencement ceremony.
Ph.D. in Criminal Justice & Criminology
In picture from left to right: Kate Angulski, Nicole Niebuhr, Rick Lewis, Alex Updegrove. Not pictured: Brenda Riley
Angulski, Kate A.
“Change Begins With a Crisis: Desistance Among Drug-Involved Offenders”
Chair: Dr. Jurg Gerber
Committee Members: Drs. Yan Zhang, Dr. Jihong (Solomon) Zhao
Accepted tenure track position as Assistant Professor with University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Lewis, Richard H.
“The Effects of Victimization, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Heart Rate Reactivity on Antisocial Behavior”
Chair: Dr. Danielle Boisvert
Committee Members: Drs. Cortney Franklin, Eric Connolly
Accepted tenure track position as Assistant Professor at University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Niebuhr, Nicole E.
“Deciphering Decision-making: Exploring the Differences of Criminal Decision-making between Offenders and College Students”
Chair: Dr. Ryan Randa
Committee Members: Drs. Erin Orrick, Danielle Boisvert, Jeffrey Bouffard (outside reader)
Accepted tenure track position as Assistant Professor at the University of West Florida
Riley, Brenda S.
“Religious Accommodations in Prison: The States’ Policies v. the Circuit Courts”
Chair: Dr. Michael S. Vaughn
Committee Members: Drs. Dennis Longmire, Jurg Gerber
Accepted tenure track position as Assistant Professor at Texas A & M University, Texarkana
Updegrove, Alexander H.
“The “Cost of Caring”: Identifying Correlates of Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Compassion Satisfaction among Texas Victim Assistance Coordinators”
Chair: Dr. Michael S. Vaughn
Committee Members: Drs. Mary M. Breaux, William R. King, Lisa R. Muftic (outside reader)
Accepted tenure track Assistant Professor position at Texas A & M International University
Masters Graduates
Master of Science in Victim Services Management- Aldana, Marissa L.
- Duval, Ashlee
- Elkins, Karissa D.
- Esparza, Alexandra M.
- Gonzalez, Carlos A.
- Kelley, Qiana M.
- Lawson, Cynthia C.
- Matthews, Willie G.
- Merritt, Jomika F.
- Pena, Chelsea A.
- Saxon, Alyssa M.
- Berumen, Tifhany C.
- Chavez, Amy E.
- Foreman, Freeda G. (posthumous)
- Hanks, Kristine K.
- Johnson, Richard E.
- Landers, Billy P.
- Ortega, Tori L.
- Pessina, Haley L.
- Potts, Sarah K.
- Akwuba, Kennedy O.
- Arce, Ubaldo
- Brusuelas, Marisa N.
- Carpency, Daniel J.
- Chambers, Darren W.
- Gonzalez, Cinthia G.
- Hada, Andrie L.
- Hulcy, Stefanie M.
- Jones, Judge T.
- Masters, Aaron S.
- Rickard, Brittany A.
- Rikard, Helen F.
- Salazar-Morales, Maria E.
- Saunders, Kayla E.
- Seagren, Nicole
- Trigg, Nahrya N.
- Valois, Jesse J.
Alicia Barker (Soto), ’08, Bachelors in Criminal Justice, was hired as an Assistant Planner with Texas Commission on Jail Standards in September 2018 to assist in the monitoring and evaluation of plans and programs to ensure compliance with administrative rules and regulation. Prior to joining TCJS in 2018, Alicia worked with a diverse range of organizations, including The State Office of Risk Management and Health and Human Services Commission. Alicia has also completed the Austin Police Departments Victim Services training, as a crisis team volunteer and has additional education regrading Crime Victims Compensation. An Austin native, Alicia graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.
Luis Alvarado, ’18, Bachelors in Criminal Justice, recently graduated from the Houston Police academy.
Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division Captains and SHSU CJ alumni Jeff Buuck (BS ‘03, MS ‘10), Mark Melson (BS ’97), and Kyle Matheson (BS ‘96) gathered for a meeting in Austin recently.
Amy Proctor, ’16, PhD in Criminal Justice & Criminology, published results from recent research in Indian Country. This is a product my partnership with the Cherokeen Nation and the Department of Justice, Community Oriented Police Services, Tribal Methamphetamine Initiative grant. Read her article.
Congrats to Kevin Steinmetz ’14, PhD in Criminal Justice & Criminology, on being honored by Eastern Kentucky University. Kevin was named the 2018 Young Alumni Award winner for his accomplishments.
