Faculty & Staff

	Irshad Altheimer Assistant Professor \| Ph.D., Washington State University Irshad Altheimer received his Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University. Dr. Altheimer has published research articles in a variety of criminology and criminal justice journals. His research interests include macro-level criminology, criminological theory, corrections, and criminal justice policy. He teaches a broad range of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Email: ixagcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 6299 Altheimer CV
	John Klofas Professor \| Ph.D., SUNY Albany Teaches in the areas of corrections, management, crime & violence and law & social control. Also teaches a course called "Crime and Justice in the Community." This course reflects Dr. Klofas' growing interest in community level analyses as well as his work with the organization Metropolitan Forum, which promotes metropolitan perspectives in the analysis and solution of community problems. Research interests include management, corrections, and jails. Most recently, focus has been on community structure and crime related issues. He also serves as Director for the Center for Public Safety Initiatives at RIT. Email: jmkgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2423
	John McCluskey Graduate Director Associate Professor \| Ph.D., SUNY Albany Professor McCluskey's teaching and research focuses on the areas of policing, violence, and evaluation research. His most recent research efforts have focused on robbery in several jurisdictions as well as the effect of procedural justice on police-citizen encounters. Currently he is involved in an ongoing evaluation of violence reduction efforts in Detroit, MI. The application of criminal justice and criminology to everyday problems confronting criminal justice agencies and actors is at the core of his research agenda. Email: john.mccluskey@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2666
	LaVerne McQuiller Williams Chairperson Associate Professor \| J.D., Albany Law School Ph.D., SUNY Buffalo After graduating from RIT and law school, worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Rensselaer County, NY before joining the faculty in 1996. Teaches courses in evidence, women in crime, minorities in criminal justice, criminal law, and honors research. Also serves as the pre-law advisor. Research interests include intimate partner violence and therapeutic justice. Email: llmgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2935
	Judy Porter Undergraduate Coordinator Associate Professor \| Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha Dr. Porter received her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, her Masters in Sociology from New Mexico State University, and her Bachelors in Sociology with an English Minor and a Criminal Justice emphasis from the University of Northern Colorado. Her research has included public housing concerns, elderly, and correctional programs. Email: jlpgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 5367
	O. Nicholas Robertson Lecturer \| M.A., Suny Brockport Professor Robertson is a lecturer in the departments of Criminal Justice and Sociology/Anthropology at RIT. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Sociology at SUNY Buffalo. His research interests are in crime, law, deviance, race, ethnicity, and immigration, with a focus on immigration and crime. Email: onrgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2083
	Chris Schreck Professor \| Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University Professor Schreck has been a member of the criminal justice faculty at RIT since 2004. Dr. Schreck is the author of over three dozen publications, many of which focus on the correlation between a person's victimization experiences and offense activity; he has also published on other topics, including several studies on specialization in violent offending. Further details about Professor Schreck and his research can be found on his webpage. He is a past editor of both the Journal of Criminal Justice Education and the Journal of Crime and Justice. Email: cjsgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2462
	Jason Scott Associate Professor \| Ph.D. University at Albany Professor Scott received his Ph.D. from the School of Criminal Justice at the University at Albany. His current research interests include community policing, social capital, and the role of criminal justice agencies and other civic institutions in community capacity building. His most recent published articles have appeared in Police Quarterly and the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice. Dr. Scott currently teaches classes in law enforcement, crime and violence, criminal justice policy, and introduction to criminal justice. Email: jxsgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2393
	Tony Smith Assistant Professor \| Ph.D., SUNY Albany Professor Smith is currently interested in cross-national tests of criminological theories and situational crime prevention. His scholarship has appeared in several peer-reviewed scientific journals including Criminal Justice & Behavior, Deviant Behavior, European Journal of Psychiatry, and the International Journal of Comparative & Applied Criminal Justice. He has served as a consultant to the United Nations (HEUNI), the Institute for Forensic Studies at the University of Malta, and numerous law enforcement agencies. Dr. Smith teaches a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses. Email: trsgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 6532
	Gia Boersema Project Coordinator and Grant Manager \| B.S. Email: gdbgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 6386
	Janelle Duda Assistant Director, Center for Public Safety Initiatives \| M.S.W. Email: jmdgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 5591
	Karla Van Strander Senior Staff Assistant Email: ksvcms@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2432

Former Faculty & Staff

Tom Castellano
Associate Professor | Ph.D., SUNY Albany

Professor Castellano teaches and conducts research in the areas of correctional and criminal justice policy. His most recent research has focused on offender reentry programming, the quality of correctional employment, and the impact of super-maximum security prisons on levels of prison violence. He has a strong interest in restorative justice, and how the criminal justice system can promote justice and public safety without negatively impacting individuals or community life. He came to RIT in 2003 after having teaching positions at Washington State University and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Tom passed away September, 2009.

John Violanti, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Croft, Ph.D.

Richard B. Lewis, M.A.

John Ballard, M.A.

Paul Brule, M.A.

Patricia Carter, Ph.D.

Recent Adjunct Faculty

Hon. James Mulley
Professor Mulley is a Penfield Town Justice and is also employed as Executive Assistant for the Appellate Division Fourth Department. He teaches a variety of law-based courses, including Concepts in Criminal Law.

Hon. Joseph Valentino
Professor Valentino is a Supreme Court Justice in Monroe County and currently serves as Supervising Judge of the Criminal Term Courts for the Seventh Judicial District. He teaches a course entitled Courts.

Robert Maldonado
After retiring from the New York State Police and serving as Deputy Chief of the Rochester Police Department, Professor Maldonado served as Jail Superintendent of Monroe County. He holds a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from SUNY Albany and teaches a number of law enforcement-oriented courses.

Hon. Howard Relin
Professor Relin is the former District Attorney of Monroe County. He teaches a number of law-related courses.

Glenn Hoff
Retiring in 2010 as a Deputy Chief with the Rochester NY Police Department, Professor Glenn Hoff has 27 years of practical experience and holds a masters degree in organizational leadership and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He teaches Management in Criminal Justice

Hon. Michael Green
Professor Green is the current District Attorney of Monroe County. He currently teaches Issues in Criminal Prosecution.

Hon. Robert Duffy
Professor Duffy is the Lieutenant Governor of New York. He holds an advanced degree from Syracuse University. He has taught Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement.

Brian Shiffrin, Esq.
Professor Shiffrin is a partner at Easton, Thompson, Kasperek, and Shiffrin, LLP. He teaches Courts and Wrongful Convictions.

Steven Siena, Esq.
Professor Siena is a retired Captain with the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. He has a law degree from SUNY Buffalo, and has taught courses such as Criminology, Correctional Issues, and Law Enforcement.

Scott Deming
Professor Deming is a Special Investigator with the Rochester Police Department. He has an M.S degree from the State College at Brockport. He has taught Law Enforcement in Society.

Joseph Hennekey
Professor Hennekey developed and implemented the Computer Crime Unit within the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Recently, he has been assigned to the Electronic Crime Task Force for Western New York. He teaches computer crime courses.

Jennifer Gravitz, Esq.
Professor Gravitz has taught numerous courses in the Department of Criminal Justice for the past two decades and specializes in Computer Crime.

Jennifer Wolfley
For over two decades, Professor Wolfley has had a career in public service as well as teaching. She has taught in various disciplines including criminal justice, writing, literature, and women's and gender studies. Her publications have addressed homelessness, prostitution and street life. Professor Wolfley currently teaches courses in prostitution and vice, seminar in sexual violence, domestic violence, prison writings and women and crime.

David DiCaro
Professor DiCaro currently serves as the Chief of Police of Gates, New York. He teaches Technology in Criminal Justice.

Hon. Edward Nowak
Professor Nowak is the former Public Defender of Monroe County. He teaches law-related courses, including Seminar in Law and Evidence.

Stephanie Batcheller, Esq.
Professor Batcheller is a career defender currently working as a Staff Attorney with the New York State Defenders Association Public Defense Backup Center, a resource center for assigned counsel attorneys around the state. She teaches Concepts in Criminal Law.

Michael Stein
Professor Stein litigates disability rights cases as partner with the firm Stein & Vargas, LLP. He has also traveled extensively in Chile giving presentations and workshops on the human rights of deaf people. His areas of research interest include the Americans with Disabilities Act and the rights of individuals with disabilities in the justice system.

Hon. Valerie R. Johnson
Professor Johnson serves as an Administrative Law Judge in the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

	Irshad Altheimer Assistant Professor \| Ph.D., Washington State University Irshad Altheimer received his Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University. Dr. Altheimer has published research articles in a variety of criminology and criminal justice journals. His research interests include macro-level criminology, criminological theory, corrections, and criminal justice policy. He teaches a broad range of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Email: ixagcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 6299 Altheimer CV
	John Klofas Professor \| Ph.D., SUNY Albany Teaches in the areas of corrections, management, crime & violence and law & social control. Also teaches a course called "Crime and Justice in the Community." This course reflects Dr. Klofas' growing interest in community level analyses as well as his work with the organization Metropolitan Forum, which promotes metropolitan perspectives in the analysis and solution of community problems. Research interests include management, corrections, and jails. Most recently, focus has been on community structure and crime related issues. He also serves as Director for the Center for Public Safety Initiatives at RIT. Email: jmkgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2423
	John McCluskey Graduate Director Associate Professor \| Ph.D., SUNY Albany Professor McCluskey's teaching and research focuses on the areas of policing, violence, and evaluation research. His most recent research efforts have focused on robbery in several jurisdictions as well as the effect of procedural justice on police-citizen encounters. Currently he is involved in an ongoing evaluation of violence reduction efforts in Detroit, MI. The application of criminal justice and criminology to everyday problems confronting criminal justice agencies and actors is at the core of his research agenda. Email: john.mccluskey@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2666
	LaVerne McQuiller Williams Chairperson Associate Professor \| J.D., Albany Law School Ph.D., SUNY Buffalo After graduating from RIT and law school, worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Rensselaer County, NY before joining the faculty in 1996. Teaches courses in evidence, women in crime, minorities in criminal justice, criminal law, and honors research. Also serves as the pre-law advisor. Research interests include intimate partner violence and therapeutic justice. Email: llmgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2935
	Judy Porter Undergraduate Coordinator Associate Professor \| Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha Dr. Porter received her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, her Masters in Sociology from New Mexico State University, and her Bachelors in Sociology with an English Minor and a Criminal Justice emphasis from the University of Northern Colorado. Her research has included public housing concerns, elderly, and correctional programs. Email: jlpgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 5367
	O. Nicholas Robertson Lecturer \| M.A., Suny Brockport Professor Robertson is a lecturer in the departments of Criminal Justice and Sociology/Anthropology at RIT. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Sociology at SUNY Buffalo. His research interests are in crime, law, deviance, race, ethnicity, and immigration, with a focus on immigration and crime. Email: onrgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2083
	Chris Schreck Professor \| Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University Professor Schreck has been a member of the criminal justice faculty at RIT since 2004. Dr. Schreck is the author of over three dozen publications, many of which focus on the correlation between a person's victimization experiences and offense activity; he has also published on other topics, including several studies on specialization in violent offending. Further details about Professor Schreck and his research can be found on his webpage. He is a past editor of both the Journal of Criminal Justice Education and the Journal of Crime and Justice. Email: cjsgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2462
	Jason Scott Associate Professor \| Ph.D. University at Albany Professor Scott received his Ph.D. from the School of Criminal Justice at the University at Albany. His current research interests include community policing, social capital, and the role of criminal justice agencies and other civic institutions in community capacity building. His most recent published articles have appeared in Police Quarterly and the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice. Dr. Scott currently teaches classes in law enforcement, crime and violence, criminal justice policy, and introduction to criminal justice. Email: jxsgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2393
	Tony Smith Assistant Professor \| Ph.D., SUNY Albany Professor Smith is currently interested in cross-national tests of criminological theories and situational crime prevention. His scholarship has appeared in several peer-reviewed scientific journals including Criminal Justice & Behavior, Deviant Behavior, European Journal of Psychiatry, and the International Journal of Comparative & Applied Criminal Justice. He has served as a consultant to the United Nations (HEUNI), the Institute for Forensic Studies at the University of Malta, and numerous law enforcement agencies. Dr. Smith teaches a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses. Email: trsgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 6532
	Gia Boersema Project Coordinator and Grant Manager \| B.S. Email: gdbgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 6386
	Janelle Duda Assistant Director, Center for Public Safety Initiatives \| M.S.W. Email: jmdgcj@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 5591
	Karla Van Strander Senior Staff Assistant Email: ksvcms@rit.edu \| Phone: (585) 475 - 2432