Faculty and Staff

Departmental Faculty

Gordon A. Crews, Ph.D.

Gordon A. Crews, Ph.D.

Department Chair & Keith A. Ferguson Endowed Professor

Graduate AOP Program Coordinator

Doctor of Philosophy, Elementary Education, University of South Carolina, 1995

Specializations:

K-12 School Violence
Juvenile Delinquency and Violence
Law Enforcement and Correctional Policy and Procedures

Email:

gordon.crews@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-2135

(956) 882-8260

Office:

ELABN 321

Joseph Appiahene-Gyamfi, Ph.D.

Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 2000

Specializations:

Phenomena of Crime
Criminological theories
Pattern theory/Environmental criminology
Criminal Justice Policy Analysis
Violent crime
Comparative/World CJ Systems

Email:

joseph.appiahenegyamfi@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-7061

Office:

ELABN 328

Dianna C. Blankenship, Ph.D.

Dianna C. Blankenship, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer

Doctor of Philosophy, Nutrition, Texas Woman’s University, 1982
J.D., Texas Wesleyan School of Law, 1995

Specializations:

Student perceptions of online education
procrastination and academic performance of online students
legal education
Online juror information in predominately Hispanic counties

Email:

dianna.blankenship@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-8260

(956) 997-6633

Office:

Virtual Office

Ben Brown, Ph.D.

Ben Brown, Ph.D.

Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, Kansas State University, 1995

Specializations:

Law Enforcement (community policing, public perceptions of police, etc.)
Juvenile Delinquency/Justice
Homeland Security (border security, technology, etc.)
Fear of Crime

Email:

benjamin.brown@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-8813

Office:

BMSLC 3.227

Catherine Burton, Ph.D.

Catherine Burton, Ph.D.

Lecturer II

Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology/Criminology, Louisiana State University, 2001.

Specializations

race/crime and ethnicity
organized crime
homeland security

Email:

Catherine.burton@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(843) 813-5773

Office:

virtual

Mario Davila, Ph.D.

Mario Davila, Ph.D.

Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, 2005

Specializations:

Criminology
Child Maltreatment
Corrections
White Collar Crime
Organized Crime

Email:

mario.davila@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-7759

Office:

BMSLC 3.239

Marika Dawkins, Ph.D.

Marika Dawkins, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator

Doctor of Philosophy, Juvenile Justice, Prairie View A&M University, 2013

Specializations:

Comparative Juvenile Justice
Delinquency Prevention
Crime and Justice in the Caribbean
Race and Ethnicity in the Criminal Justice System

Email:

marika.dawkins@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-3708

Office:

ELABN 307

Denise Deleon, MSCJ

Denise Deleon, MSCJ

Lecturer III/Internship Coordinator

Master of Science, Criminal Justice, University of Texas- Pan American, 2015

Specializations:

Environmental Crime and Justice
Criminal Justice
Research Methods

Email:

denise.deleon01@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-3233

Office:

ELABN 304

Elizabeth Deven-Hernandez, MSCJ

Elizabeth Deven-Hernandez, MSCJ

Lecturer III

Master of Science, Criminal Justice, University of Texas Pan American, 2004

Specializations:

Corrections with a Concentration in Probation and Parole

Email:

elizabeth.devenhernandez@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-2961

Office:

ELABN 315

Marguerite DeWitt, J.D., M.D.

Marguerite DeWitt, J.D., M.D.

Lecturer III

Doctor of Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 1980
Juris Doctor, University of Maine School of Law, 1999

Specializations:

Forensic Pathology
Crime Scene and Medical Legal Forensic Investigations
Legal Aspects of Evidence and Criminal Procedure
The Constitutional Aspects of Criminal Investigations
Child Death, Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Investigations

Email:

marguerite.dewitt@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-6569

Office:

BMSLC 3.226

Summer Diamond, MS

Summer Diamond, MS

Lecturer III / Webmaster

Master of Science, Justice Policy, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014

Specializations:

Policing and Corrections

Email:

summer.diamond@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-5833

Office:

ELABN 328

Lucas Espinoza, Ph.D.

Lucas Espinoza, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Assistant Director of Faculty Advocacy, Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention

Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, Texas Woman’s University

Specializations:

Latino/a Health Disparities- Intimate Partner Violence and Human Sexuality
Social Justice Rights/Issues- Education/Pedagogy
Gender & Women's Studies- Masculinity and Gender
Mexican American Studies- Historical Violence
Social Science Methodology & Statistics

Email:

lucas.espinoza01@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-8757

Office:

ELABN 332

Marisol Fuentes-Salinas, MSCJ

Marisol Fuentes-Salinas, MSCJ

Lecturer I

Master of Science, Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, 2021

Specializations:

Corrections
Community Policing
Police - Ethics
Probation and Parole

Email:

marisol.fuentes01@utrgv.edu

Office:

ELABN 334

Deborah Hartley, Ph.D.

Deborah Hartley, Ph.D.

Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, 2008

Specializations:

Child Maltreatment
Violent Crime
Corrections
Assessment

Email:

deborah.hartley@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-7266

Office:

BMSLC 3.238

Saul Hernandez, MSCJ

Saul Hernandez, MSCJ

Lecturer III

Master of Science, Criminal Justice, University of Texas- Pan American, 2013

Specializations:

Terrorism
Corrections
Community Policing

Email:

saul.hernandez01@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-7016

Office:

ELABN 336

Mary King, MA

Mary King, MA

Lecturer III

Master of Arts, Criminal Justice with a Specialization in Investigative Criminology, Seattle University, 2013

Specializations:

Investigative Criminology

Email:

mary.jordan@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-3566

Yudu Li, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, 2016

Specializations:

Comparative Criminology/Criminal Justice
Court and Sentencing
Death Penalty Study
Law Enforcement and Administration
Criminological Theories

Email:

yudu.li@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-2339

Office:

ELABN 305

Fernando Muñoz, MA

Fernando Muñoz, MA

Lecturer III

Master of Arts, Sociology, Western Michigan University 1978

Specializations:

Probation and Parole
Corrections
Statistics

Email:

fernando.munoz@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-5299

Office:

ELABN 309

Noel Otu, Ph.D.

Noel Otu, Ph.D.

Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Criminology, Florida State University, 1995

Specializations:

Law Enforcement---(Police---Management, Brutality, Liability Insurance, Culture, Etc.)
Violence (Police and Citizens)

Email:

noel.otu@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-8995

Office:

BMSLC 3.237

Rachel Rayburn, Ph.D.

Rachel Rayburn, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, University of Central Florida, 2011

Specializations:

Applied Sociology/Evaluation Research
Deviance, Qualitative Research Methods
Poverty & Homelessness
Alcohol and Drugs
Research Methods

Email:

rachel.rayburn@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-5831

Office:

ELABN 345

Rosalva Resendiz, Ph.D.

Rosalva Resendiz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, Texas Woman's University

Specialization:

Gender & Women’s Studies/Chicana Feminism
Organized Crime
Critical Criminology
Mexican American/Border Studies
Social Theory

Email:

rosalva.resendiz@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-8074

Office:

ELABN 311

Michael Sanchez, Ph.D.

Michael Sanchez, Ph.D.

Lecturer III

Doctor of Philosophy, Business Administration with a Specialization in Criminal Justice, Northcentral University, 2016

Specializations:

International Policing
Leadership and Management
Police and Correctional Use of Force
Law Enforcement Operations

Email:

michael.sanchez@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-7844

Office:

BMSLC 3.227

Wilford Shriver, MAIS

Wilford Shriver, MAIS

Lecturer I

Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies Government/Criminal Justice
University of Texas at Brownsville December 2007

Specializations:

Corrections
Probation and Parole
Police
Gang Members
Sex Offenders
Mental Health

Email:

wilford.shriver@utrgv.edu

Office:

BMSLC 3.235

Thomas White, J.D., Ph.D.

Thomas White, J.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science, Texas A&M University, 2003
Juris Doctor, Law, University of Houston, 1980

Specializations:

Constitutional Rights and Criminal Justice

Email:

thomas.white@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 665-5298

Office:

ELABN 305

Youngki Woo, Ph.D.

Youngki Woo, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Doctor of Philosophy, Criminal Justice, Washington State University, 2019

Specializations:

Cannabis research
Theories of crime and delinquency
Incarceration and punishment
Corrections
Victimization
Race/gender/class and crime
Quantitative Methods

Email:

youngki.woo@utrgv.edu

Phone:

(956) 882-7446

Office:

BMSLC 3.228

Staff

Ms. Christina Avilez

Ms. Christina Avilez

Administrative Assistant II

Email:

christina.avilez@utrgv.edu

Phone:

956-665-2135

Office:

ELABN 321

Ms. Julie Ann Silva

Ms. Julie Ann Silva

Administrative Assistant II

Department of Criminal Justice & History

Email:

Julie.silva01@utrgv.edu

Phone:

956-882-8260

Office:

BMSLC 3.211

Adjunct Faculty

Ms. Susana Chapa, MS

Ms. Susana Chapa, MS

Part-time Lecturer

Email:

susana.chapa@utrgv.edu

Office:

Edinburg

Ms. Adriana Escamilla, MAIS

Ms. Adriana Escamilla, MAIS

Part-time Lecturer

Email:

adriana.escamilla@utrgv.edu

Office:

Brownsville

Mr. Jeremiah D. Hicks, MS

Mr. Jeremiah D. Hicks, MS

Part-Time Lecturer

Office:

Edinburg

Ms. Adela Kowalski-Garza, J.D.

Ms. Adela Kowalski-Garza, J.D.

Part-time Lecturer

Current Presiding Judge for the 484th District Court, a court that is assigned to Juvenile Justice in Cameron County.

Email:

adela.kowalskigarza@utrgv.edu

Office:

Brownsville

Mr. Faustino Lopez III, MSCJ

Mr. Faustino Lopez III, MSCJ

Part-time Lecturer

Director of Hidalgo County Community Supervision and Corrections Department

Email:

faustino.lopez@utrgv.edu

Office:

Edinburg

Ms. Nicole Nee, MS

Ms. Nicole Nee, MS

Part-Time Lecturer

Office:

Edinburg

Mr. Kyle Pearson, MS

Mr. Kyle Pearson, MS

Part-time Lecturer

Email:

kyle.pearson@utrgv.edu

Office:

Edinburg

Mr. Victor Rodriguez, MPA

Mr. Victor Rodriguez, MPA

Part-time Lecturer

Chief of Police, City of McAllen

Email:

victor.rodriguez@utrgv.edu

Office:

Edinburg

Mr. Juan Villescas, J.D.

Mr. Juan Villescas, J.D.

Part-time Lecturer

City of Pharr Municipal Court Judge

Email:

juan.villescas@utrgv.edu

Office:

Edinburg

Brandy Voss, J.D.

Brandy Voss, J.D.

Part-time Lecturer

Lawyer representing clients before the Texas Supreme Court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, intermediate courts of appeal, and before the Texas Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation.

Email:

brandy.voss@utrgv.edu

Office:

Edinburg

Department of Criminal Justice College of Liberal Arts