Criminal Justice Faculty
DR. PATRICK MCMANIMON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND CHAIR
Hynes Hall 504K l 908-737-4252 l pmcmanimo@kean.edu
Dr. Patrick McManimon received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2000. Previously he worked as an administrator and warden at several institutions in Illinois and New Jersey. Dr. McManimon co-authored a book with Dr. Garcia concerning intimate partner violence, and previously served as the coordinator of the criminal justice programs (BA and MA). He is a certified expert witness in the United States Federal Courts for correctional management and inmate rights.
Classes: Correctional Systems; Criminal Justice in America; Probation & Parole; Research Methods; and Theories of Crime & Delinquency.
Research interests: Corrections; Inmate Rights; and Management of Correctional Programs.
DENNIS BOGDAN, LECTURER
Hynes Hall 505S l 908-737-4288 l dbogdan@kean.edu
Instructor Dennis Bogdan holds an M.A. in Forensic Psychology from the City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (2004), and a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University (1997). He joined the Criminal Justice faculty at Kean University in the fall of 2006 as an adjunct professor, and became a full time lecturer in the fall of 2013. Bogdan retired as a police lieutenant after a 25 year law enforcement career that included service in the West Orange Police Department, the Newark Police Department, and New Jersey State Department of Corrections. During his career he specialized in criminal investigations, homeland security, policy management, and police training. Instr. Bogdan is the faculty advisor for the Kean University Criminal Justice Club and co-advisor for the Kean University chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, The National Criminal Justice Honor Society.
Classes: Criminal Justice in America; Criminology; Comparative Criminal Justice Systems; Current Issues in Policing; Ethics in Criminal Justice; Juvenile Justice; Police Organization and Administration; Police Role in the Community; Terrorism & Society;
Travel Learn: Professor Bogdan has been actively supervising the Criminal Justice Travel Learn program since 2014.
Research Interests: Policing; Criminal Justice Education; Service Learning.
FERNANDO LINHARES, LECTURER
Hynes Hall 504 l flinhare@kean.edu
Ocean Campus: Gateway Building 314-316 l 201-618-4939
Fernando Linhares identifies as a Brazilian-American from Newark, New Jersey and product of the Newark Public Schools. An attorney for thirty years (former municipal judge, prosecutor, and Wall St. litigation associate at Mudge Rose) as well as college lecturer for twenty years, Dr. Linhares is involved in various forms of prison ministry, explores interfaith restorative justice practices, and explores transformative justice approaches within criminal justice systems. He received a B.A. from New York University, J.D. from Rutgers University in Newark, LL.M. from Pace Law Center, M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, M.Div. from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, MFA from Salve Regina University, and D.Min. from Drew University. Dr. Linhares attended the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (University of Michigan), is a trained Inside Out Prison Exchange scholar, as well as a certified Kairos Prison Ministry leader and facilitator with the Alternatives to Violence Project. His work emphasizes that correctional and detention facilities are not ancillary, isolated, and segregated communities, but are central to society (as well as faith-based institutions). Dr. Linhares volunteers as a Board-Certified Chaplain (4 CPEs) at several carceral and medical institutions and has shared his work on five continents in nearly three dozen professional settings, including at the United Nations while leading travel abroad programs in El Salvador, Brazil, Ecuador, Cuba, Italy, Germany, Austria and Czechia as well as Northeast Native American communities.
Classes: Alternatives to Incarceration; Comparative Criminal Justice Systems; Correctional Systems; Diversity in Criminal Justice; Issues in Criminal Justice (The Judiciary); Justice and Police Power; Juvenile Justice; Probation and Parole; Role of the Prosecutor; Substantive Criminal Law
Research Interests: Transformative justice (alternatives to incarceration); Urban (environmental) sociology/criminology; Sociology of religion (cultural criminology); Qualitative/mixed research methodology; Latin American Studies (comparative law); Legal Studies (sociology of law).
ALEXANDER SEPULVEDA, EQUITY IN ACTION FELLOW
Hynes Hall 505G I 908-737-4277 I asepulve@kean.edu
Professor Sepulveda received a JD from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in 1997. He was a HEOP scholar at Syracuse University where he holds a BS in Producing for the Electronic Media and a BA in Spanish Language, Literature and Arts in 1993.
Professor Sepulveda joined the Kean University Criminal Justice Department in the Fall of 2016 after serving as an adjunct since 2011. He is a member and faculty advisor for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc and also the faculty advisor for Kean Sports Business Club. Professor Sepulveda was awarded the EOF Faculty Award in 2019. Prior to teaching at Kean University, he taught full-time at Monroe College where he founded the Sports Business Club and has held adjunct positions at Georgetown University, Saint Peter’s University, St. John’s University and Metropolitan College of New York.
Professor Sepulveda began his legal career as an associate at Bozeman & Trott, LLP. He has also worked in New York Supreme Court for Justice Donna Mills, the New York Board of Education Legal Department, Landlord/Tenant for New York Quadel and the New Jersey Nets. He was a certified Major League Baseball agent.
Professor Sepulveda’s interest in research include solitary confinement, gentrification, the treatment of minors in jail and as well as minority athlete treatment in criminal cases.
Classes: Proof & Verification, Justice & Police Power, Substantive Criminal Law, Role of the Prosecutor, Ethics in Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice in America, Legal Aspects of Sports and Constitutional Theory
LAUREN SPATH, LECTURER
Hynes Hall 505T I 908-737-4289 I spathl@kean.edu
Professor Lauren Spath received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Criminal Justice from Kean University. While attending Kean University for her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Professor Spath was the President of Alpha Phi Sigma – The Criminal Justice Honor Society. Prior to joining the faculty at Kean University full time, Professor Spath adjunct at Kean University, while also working full time in the research industry of social policy, government, and healthcare.
Classes: Criminal Justice in America; Criminology; Victims of Crime; Comparative Criminal Justice Systems; Research Methods; Senior Seminar
DR. AMANDA THOMAS
Hynes Hall - 504H | (908) 737-4293 | amthomas@kean.edu
Prof. Thomas retired from the NYPD as a sergeant and completed her Ph.D. at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Using her practical experience from both the Patrol and Housing Bureaus, Prof. Thomas continues to contribute to the field of law enforcement by maintaining an active, policy-relevant research agenda.
Classes: Diversity & Criminal Justice, Police Organization and Administration, Police in America, Research Methods, Race, Class, & Gender in CJ
Research Interests: Evidence-Based Policing, Best Practices in Policing, Police Training, Crime Prevention, Environmental Criminology, Quantitative Research Methods
NICHOLAS BARBELLA, LECTURER
Hynes Hall 505U I 908-737-4290 I nicholab@kean.edu
Prof. Barbella has extensive experience in law enforcement which lasted 35 years with a municipal police department in New Jersey. He retired at the rank of lieutenant. His duties were administrative, budgeting, writing grants, patrol/communications/IT/records/training supervisor.
Prof. Barbella has an A.S. in Criminal Justice, a B.S. in Human Resources, and a MAS in Administrative Science. He is a graduate of the Certified Manager Program through Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership program through the NJ State Chiefs of Police Association in conjunction with the West Point Academy. His accomplishments include, 5 certificates of merit, 2 awards for Outstanding/Exemplary Service, 2 lifesaving awards, 1 commendation for Traffic Safety, and the most coveted, Medal of Valor.
Classes: Foundations in Cybersecurity, Cyber Crime, Digital Cybercrime and Terrorism, Cyber Risk Management, Diversity in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Juvenile Justice, Comparative Analysis in Criminal Justice, Police Organization and Administration, and, Criminal Justice in America.
Online Advisor: Prof. Barbella serves as the online advisor for the Criminal Justice Department.
Research interests: Policing; Criminal Justice Education; Service Learning
DR. KETTY FERNANDEZ, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Hynes Hall 505J I 908-737-4254 I fernaket@kean.edu
Dr. Fernández received her Ph.D. in Sociology (Crime & Deviance) from the University of Central Florida (UCF 2022). She is an EOF alum from Caldwell University where she obtained her B.A. in Psychology (2014). Prior to coming to Kean, she taught at Valencia College and at UCF. She also worked on various research projects related to crime and deviance with an emphasis on violence against women and human trafficking. She has published research articles and book chapters. Her work can be found in Policing: An International Journal, The New School Psychology Bulletin, Criminal Justice Policy Review, Sociation Today, and the Journal of Mass Violence Research.
Classes: Diversity and Criminal Justice, Victims of Crime, Comparative Criminal Justice, Victimology, Research Methods, Race, Class, & Gender in Criminal Justice
Research Interests: Victimology, Criminology, Violence Against Women, Human Trafficking, Racial/Ethnic Inequalities.
DR. STANLEY J. MIERZWA, DIRECTOR & LECTURER, CENTER FOR CYBERSECURITY
Hynes Hall 5040 I 908-737-4266 I smierzwa@kean.edu
Stan is widely recognized as a leader in digital health technology and Cybersecurity, particularly innovations that are both relevant and usable in low-resource settings. Stan is currently the Director & Lecturer at the Center for Cybersecurity at Kean University. He is the PI and point-of-contact for the university's National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence Cyber Defense (NSA CAE-CD). Previously, Stan worked at the State of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Police as the Lead Application Security. Prior to the MTA, Stan served as the Director of Information Technology (CIO/CISO role) at the Population Council. Under his leadership, the Population Council’s proprietary, award-winning audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) survey software, which he developed, has been successfully used in field- and clinic-based NIH-sponsored public health research. Earlier, he began his career as a Senior Programmer Analyst at United Parcel Service.
Stan is a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime, Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, and an Editorial Review Board member for the International Association for Computer Information Systems. He is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy, board advisor, and Chief of the NJ FBI InfraGard Higher Education Special Interest Group, and a member of the State of New Jersey State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Planning Committee. He holds many certifications, including the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). He holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology from the University of the Cumberlands, an MS in Management of Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and completed professional education in innovation and leadership at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Syracuse University.
Classes: Foundations in Cybersecurity; Cyber Risk Management; Cyber Policy; Digital Crime and Terrorism; Firewalls and Secure CPU; Digital Forensics; Crime Analysis; MIS in Public Administration.
Research Interests: Cybersecurity Risk Assessments; Global Public Health Technologies; Physical Security Technologies; Law Enforcement Technologies; Non-profit Technology Implementation and Introducing Technologies in Developing Countries.
DR. WILLIAM CALATHES, PROFESSOR
Office Location: P-404, william.calathes@kean.edu
Dr. William Calathes is Professor of Criminal Justice at Kean University. He earned a B.A. in Political Science, summa cum laude, from The City College of New York, an M.A. in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law at Queens College, and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York Graduate Center. For more than four decades, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in criminal justice, criminology, public policy, and civic engagement while mentoring generations of students pursuing careers in law, criminal justice, public service, and higher education.
A scholar, educator, labor leader, and human rights advocate, Dr. Calathes has combined academic research with public service throughout his career. His professional experience includes administering educational programs in correctional institutions, serving on the boards of community corrections organizations, monitoring compliance with federal consent decrees at Rikers Island, participating in voting rights litigation in Kenya, reviewing proceedings of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, serving as a criminology consultant to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia on transitional justice initiatives, and contributing to the United Nations project on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is also a certified expert in white-collar crime for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and has worked extensively in labor organizing and collective bargaining.
Dr. Calathes' scholarship focuses on white-collar crime, policing, corrections, restorative justice, community empowerment, social justice, labor relations, and criminal justice reform. His publications have examined topics including mortgage fraud, the LIBOR international banking scandal, and corporate crime. His most recent article, Antitrust Enforcement and Market Manipulation in the Beef Industry: A Case Study of In Re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation, has been accepted for publication. He has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences and has contributed to Department of Justice community policing initiatives while remaining actively engaged in advocacy for police accountability, civil rights, and democratic participation.
Classes: Community Corrections; Criminal Evidence; Criminal Law; Crime & Delinquency; Criminal Justice Ethics; Introduction to Criminal Justice; Police Organization & Administration; Seminar in Criminal Justice; Victimless Crime/Organized Crime; White Collar Crime
Research Interests: Criminal law & procedure; Policing & critical issues in policing; Corrections, community corrections, restorative justice; Ethics, multicultural law enforcement, global justice
DR. VENESSA GARCIA, ASSOCIATE CHAIR & PROFESSOR
Office Location: P-401-A, vgarcia1@kean.edu
Dr. Venessa Garcia is a professor of criminal justice whose three decades of research, teaching, and service focus on gender, policing, violence against women, and media representations of crime. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from SUNY Buffalo and previously conducted state and federally funded research with the Research Institute on Addictions and the National Center for State Courts, contributing to national studies on domestic violence courts, child custody, and court compliance with federal mandates. Her scholarship appears in leading criminology journals and books, alongside numerous encyclopedia entries and book chapters.
A nationally recognized scholar and frequent presenter at major conferences, Dr. Garcia leads ongoing national studies on workplace discrimination, gendered organizational barriers, and equity‑focused policing reforms. She has served in significant leadership roles within the American Society of Criminology, including Executive Counselor, Chair and Chair pro tem of the Division of Feminist Criminology, and Deputy Editor of Feminist Criminology. Her honors include the ASC Division of Women and Crime New Scholar of the Year Award, the Dr. Robert J. McCormack Leadership Award, the Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Sarah Hall Award for Service Contributions. Dr. Garcia remains committed to advancing feminist criminology, mentoring emerging scholars, and strengthening evidence‑based approaches to justice policy and practice.
Classes: Careers in Criminal Justice; Crime & Delinquency/Criminology; Crime & the Movies; Crisis Intervention; Criminal Justice Ethics; Juvenile Justice; Research Methods; Multicultural Law Enforcement; Senior Seminar; Victimless Crime/Organized Crime; Victims of Crime; Women & Criminal Justice: White Collar Crime
Research Interests: Women in policing; Police organizational culture; Domestic violence, intimate partner violence; Juvenile justice, youth courts; Media, crime, and public perceptions; Feminist criminology & intersectionality
DR. AARON HO, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Office Location: P-442, aaron.ho@kean.edu
Dr. Aaron Ho is a tenured Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Kean University, where he has been a member of the faculty since 2013 (formerly New Jersey City University). He earned his B.A. from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. His research focuses on risk prediction, criminal decision-making, corrections, parole and community supervision, wrongful convictions, and evidence-based criminal justice policy. Drawing on quantitative methods and predictive modeling, his work examines how social, behavioral, and environmental factors influence criminal behavior and justice system outcomes. He is particularly interested in the opportunities and ethical challenges surrounding the use of predictive analytics and artificial intelligence in criminal justice.
Dr. Ho has published scholarly work on topics including crime prediction, corrections, and criminal justice policy. His teaching emphasizes critical thinking, data-driven decision-making, and the practical application of criminological theory. He has taught courses in Crime Prevention, Corrections, Community Corrections, Careers in Criminal Justice, and Introduction to Criminal Justice. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Ho is committed to making academic research accessible to the public. He is the founder of PhDs & Pints, a public lecture series that brings university scholars into informal community spaces to share their research with broad audiences. He also created Two-Minute PhD, a short-form educational video series designed to communicate complex research findings in an engaging and accessible format.
Classes: Careers in Criminal Justice; Crime & Delinquency; Crime Prevention; Criminal Justice Research; Juvenile Justice; International Criminal Justice
Research Interests: Offender risk assessment & classification; Environmental criminology & situational crime prevention; Drug markets, social disorganization; Data analysis, quantitative methods; Violent crime & organized crime
DR. ESTHER NIR, DIRECTOR, JUSTICE, SECURITY, AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CLUSTER PROFESSOR
Office Location: P-401, esther.nir@kean.edu
Dr. Esther Nir serves as Director of the Justice, Security, and Public Administration Cluster and Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Public Affairs at Kean University. She holds a Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. Before entering academia, she served as a prosecutor in Queens County, New York. She has also held academic leadership roles as an Honors Program Director and Dean, bringing experience in both institutional leadership and student-centered education to her work at Kean.
Dr. Nir is committed to connecting criminal justice education with professional practice through Community Engaged Learning. She partners with members of the Hudson County judiciary to provide undergraduate students with interactive courtroom experiences that deepen their understanding of the justice system. Her research focuses on sentencing disparities, police misconduct, and community-engaged learning. She specializes in qualitative research and has interviewed judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys as part of her scholarship. Her research has appeared in leading journals, including The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, British Journal of Criminology, Criminal Justice Policy Review, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, and Social & Legal Studies, among others.
Classes: Court Systems and Administration; Trial Advocacy and the American Legal System; Trial Process 1 & 2; Criminal Evidence; Criminal Procedure; Introduction to Criminal Justice; Criminal Law
Research Interests: Sentencing disparities; judicial decision-making; Criminal procedure and constitutional issues; Policing, search & seizure; Community Engaged learning; Trial Process