Criminal Justice Faculty
Dr. Simon Purdy
Program Director & Associate Professor
E-Tower 709
607-746-4373
Dr. Purdy has been teaching in the Criminal Justice Program at SUNY Delhi since the
fall of 2018. He received his PhD in Sociology, with specializations in research methods
and power and inequality, from Western Michigan University in 2016. Dr. Purdy teaches
a wide range of criminal justice and sociology classes, though his true academic passion
is the intersection of technology and the social world, including technologies used
to enforce and thwart the law. Dr. Purdy also has a dedication to applied community-based
research, and has conducted several research projects for community organizations
throughout Delaware County and the larger region, including studies on substance use
and harm reduction efforts related to the opioid crisis. He also serves as the program
director for the on-campus criminal justice program, and is an advisor for the CJ
club. Outside of academics, Dr. Purdy enjoys spending time with his family hiking,
camping, kayaking, gardening, bee keeping, renovating their old farm house and playing
the drums.
Prof. Richard Caister
Assistant Professor
E-Tower 707
607-746-4458
Richard Caister graduated from Albany Law School in 2012, and after admission to the
NYS Bar, he opened his own solo practice in which he practiced mostly in family court
and criminal defense assignments. In 2016, Rich began working as an Assistant District
Attorney in Sullivan County, and then moved to the Delaware County District Attorney's
office in 2018, having practiced there until October, 2021. Professor Caister is now
a full-time member of the criminal justice program at SUNY Delhi.
Dr. Michele Frazier
Assistant Professor
E-Tower 419
607-746-4133
Michele Frazier grew up in Oneonta, NY. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University
of Chicago in Law, Letters and Society, a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard
University, and a Master of Science from American University in Justice, Law and Society.
She obtained her Doctorate in Law and Policy (DLP) at Northeastern University. Michele
is also a local real estate agent and former city council member for the city of Oneonta.
Her research interests are the intersection of race and gender in American systems,
particularly criminal justice and law. All her research centers on the role of social
justice and fixes to social problems. Michele had a winding career toward academia.
She has been a Chief Financial Officer, development professional, sexual assault crisis
intervention worker, and office administrator prior to finding her passion for teaching.
She currently resides in Delhi, NY with her spouse and three children. In her spare
time, of which there is little, she enjoys knitting and laughing with friends over
good food.
Dr. Joyce Shim
Dean & Professor
E-Tower 706
shimjy@delhi.edu
607-746-4452
Dr. Joyce Shim is Dean & Professor of the School of Nursing, Arts, and Sciences. A
two-time Fulbright Specialist (Russia 2018 and Colombia 2021), her articles have been
published in peer-reviewed journals including the International Journal of Social
Welfare, Journal of Family Issues, Social Work in Public Health, and Asian Social
Work and Policy Review. She taught both undergraduate and graduate classes at Columbia
University, New York University, Hunter College, and Dominican University (where she
also served as Director and Professor of the School of Social Work). Her courses included
Global Family Policy, US Welfare History, Social Work Research Method, Program Evaluation,
International Seminar, and Race and Ethnicity in the US Social Policy, among others.
Before joining academia, she worked at the United Nations, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch,
and Legal Aid Society. Dr. Shim is a recipient of the New Jersey Senate and General
Assembly Awards for Contribution to Immigrant Communities, and currently serves on
the board of Master Foundation and Transdiaspora Network. She earned a BA from Rutgers
University-New Brunswick; two Master’s degrees and a PhD, all from Columbia University.
Criminal Justice Faculty Online
Dr. Lindsay Walker
Program Director & Assistant Professor
E-Tower 709
607-746-4143
Dr. Walker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from Barry
University, a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts
Lowell, and a PhD from Texas State University. She received a Doctoral Research Support
Fellowship from the Graduate College at Texas State University. Dr. Walker’s research
focuses on intimate partner violence. Her research has been published in Violence
Against Women and the Journal of Research on Women and Gender. Dr. Walker currently
serves as a co-advisor to the Criminal Justice Club, and is serving on the College
Senate, as well as various other campus committees.
Professor Paul Rogan
Associate Professor
Paul D. Rogan is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at SUNY Delhi. Professor Rogan teaches a variety of law courses, including Constitutional Law, New York State Penal Code, Civil Liberties and U.S. Supreme Court. Professor Rogan has also created various courses for SUNY Delhi for in-person as well as online instruction.
Professor Rogan also works as an advisor for off-campus students, as well as advising
prospective off-campus potential new students. Prior to arriving at SUNY Delhi, Professor
Rogan had taught for over a decade at Hudson Valley Community College in their Criminal
Justice and Business Administration departments. He has also been a guest lecturer
at Albany Law School. Professor Rogan received his Law Degree from Albany Law School
in 1998.
He is admitted to practice law in New York State and Georgia. Prior to law school,
Professor Rogan studied Philosophy at Hobart College with a Minor in Education. Professor
Rogan has legal experience representing clients in various criminal and civil matters. He
has provided countless hours of Pro Bono work over the years, with some of his best
memories advocating for disabled individuals through the Albany Law School Disability
Law Clinic.
Professor Rogan loves spending time with his wife and four children skiing, hiking
and playing/coaching various other sports.
Chief Joseph Centanni
Adjunct Instructor
Joseph Centanni has been an adjunct faculty member at SUNY Delhi since August 2020. He currently serves as the Chief of Police for the City of Watervliet, NY Police Department. Centanni's expertise includes police operations and administration gained throughout his 27-year law enforcement career, which began with the City of Troy, NY Police Department in 1995.
His leadership roles include 10 years as a detective sergeant, 12 years with the department’s
Emergency Response Team, Instructor for the Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Training
Center, Program Manager for the NYS Accreditation Council, and Coordinator of the
Department’s Less Lethal Weapons Program.
As a captain, he was assigned to various supervisory duties to include platoon commander,
planning and analysis unit, internal affairs unit, and concluded his career with Troy
as the captain of detectives. Prior to his appointment to the City of Watervliet in
April 2021, Centanni served as the Director of Safety and Security at SUNY Empire
State College.
Centanni earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Arts in
Social and Public Policy with a Graduate Certificate in Community Advocacy from SUNY
Empire State College. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Chief (Ret.) Brendan Cox
Adjunct Instructor
Chief (Ret.) Brendan Cox is the Director of Policing Strategies at the LEAD National Support Bureau where he provides strategic guidance on the implementation of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion/Let Everyone Advance with Dignity to jurisdictions around the world. Brendan was previously employed with the Albany, New York police department where he retired as Chief of Police in 2017. He served in numerous capacities in the Albany police department, including overseeing its Special Operations Unit and Children and Family Services Unit.
Brendan rose through the ranks to become the Commander of Investigations, Assistant
Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief. In July of 2015, he was appointed Chief of
Police. In 2016, under Brendan's leadership, the Albany Police Department was recognized
by the Department of Justice as one of the top 15 police departments in the country,
as part of the COPS Advancing 21st Century Policing Initiative.
This was a direct result of strategies that were implemented on community policing
and procedural justice platforms aimed at building positive relationships with the
community. Included in these strategies were the implementation of a Law Enforcement
Assisted Diversion (LEAD) initiative, a Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents
training and protocol, and training around implicit bias for both police employees
and the community. Brendan has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the
University of Dayton and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College.
Brendan is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute
for Police. He is a member of the New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group and
was appointed to the New York Governor’s Workgroup to Draft Legislation for Regulated
Adult-Use Marijuana Program in 2018. In addition to teaching at SUNY Delhi, he is
an Executive Fellow with the Police Foundation, a speaker for the Law Enforcement
Action Partnership, and a member of the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association.
He sits on the board of directors for several local organizations, including the Albany
Police Athletic League and the LaSalle School of Albany. He and his wife Ann have
two children, Connor and Spencer.
Dr. Mary Jo Downey
Adjunct Instructor
Mary Jo Downey lives and works in upstate New York. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College
(AB) and University at Buffalo (PhD), she is a college instructor, rare book dealer,
and certified fitness instructor, depending on the day.
Ann Geisendorfer
Adjunct Instructor
Ann Geisendorfer holds bachelor's and master's degrees in forensic science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She worked 13 years at the New York State police crime laboratory in Albany, NY. She has expertise in drug analysis, hairs and fibers, and basic serology. Ann received her JD degree from Albany Law School in 1994. She has licenses to practice law in New York, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia.
Ann worked for five years in a litigation firm defending medical malpractice. Ann
accepted the job as faculty and department chair at Hudson Valley Community College
in Troy, NY. At HVCC, she taught criminal justice, forensic science, law and animal
law classes. She has developed the forensic science program at HVCC, as well as the
cyber security program (in conjunction with a department share of computer science).
Ann retired from Hudson Valley Community College in 2020. She has worked as an adjunct
instructor at SUNY Delhi for 10 years. She teaches Forensic Science, Capstone, and
the honors Wrongful Convictions course. She is a member of AAFS, ACS, NEAFS and COFSE.
Chief (Ret.) Steve Krokoff
Adjunct Instructor
Steven Krokoff was appointed the City Manager of Milton following his nomination by Mayor Joe Lockwood and the unanimous confirmation by the City Council in July 2016. He previously served as the Milton's interim City Manager and its Police Chief beginning in March 2015. As the City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Krokoff is responsible to the Mayor and City Council for the execution of strategic objectives and their transformation into the day-to-day operations of the City.
He holds a firm commitment to servant leadership and expects the same from leaders
within Team Milton at every level. As a firm believer in “getting to yes,” Krokoff
rejects much of the outdated bureaucratic dogma and remains vigilant in his team’s
focus on service to its citizens. Krokoff began his 27 years of public service as
a fresh recruit with the Albany, NY Police Department. During his 22-year tenure with
Albany, the last six as its Chief, Krokoff was instrumental in leading his team to
repair the damaged relationship that existed between the police department and the
community it served, while achieving significant drops in crime and fear of crime.
Outcome-focused, he and his team worked with their partners in social services and
public health to attack the root causes of crime as part of a broader crime reduction
strategy. In addition to his official role, Krokoff continues his passion for preparing
the next generation of criminal justice leaders. Involved since the exploration of
the Delhi Criminal Justice Program at Schenectady Community College, he has developed
and instructed several courses for the immensely popular program for more than a decade.
Krokoff moved to Georgia to be closer to his extended family and to the City of Milton
for its unbeatable quality of life. He has been married to his wife, Lynn, for 25
years, and together they have two children, Brett and Taylor.
Krokoff holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Business Administration
from the State University of New York at Albany.
Sara Martin
Adjunct Instructor
My name is Sara Martin, and I am an adjunct instructor in the Criminal Justice Department at SUNY Delhi. Currently, I teach Criminal Courts and Justice (CJUS 340) and Victimology (CJUS 375). I have taught at Delhi for the past eight years. I have also been an adjunct instructor at Hudson Valley Community College since 2002, teaching Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency, Victimology, Introduction to Family Violence, Policing, Principles of Criminal Investigation, Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence and Introduction to Criminal Justice.
In addition, I have taught one class per semester (Introduction to Family Violence)
at Albany College of Pharmacy for the past 15 years. I have a bachelor’s degree in
Sociology from Union College in Schenectady and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice
from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the State University
of New York at Albany.
Prior to becoming involved in academics, I was a legal advocate for Unity House Domestic
Violence Services in Troy, and I developed and ran the Victim Assistance Program for
the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office for 10 years. I was co-president
of the Capital District Coalition for Crime Victims’ Rights and was a founding member
of the New York Anti-Stalking Task Force. I have presented at several victim service
conferences and provided training on domestic violence, sexual abuse, and victims
issues to everyone from elementary school children to officers at local law enforcement
agencies.
My areas of interest include family violence, victims’ rights and services, family
and juvenile delinquency and victim interactions with the criminal justice system.
I enjoy boating, hiking, playing games, and spending time with my family in Lake George,
Old Forge and Disney World. I have a daughter in high school and a son in middle
school, along with a wonderful husband and two cute cats.
I enjoy teaching future criminal justice, human service, and health care professionals
about important topics in criminal justice and victimology, however, I find it even
more enjoyable to learn from all my students, whether fresh out of high school or
returning to the academic environment after a prolonged period away. I look forward
to continuing my career in academia and will continue to grow and expand my knowledge
to best provide a solid education to those I have the pleasure of teaching.
Dr. Steve Minard
Adjunct Instructor
Dr. Steven Minard began his career in 1984 as a police officer with the City of Poughkeepsie, NY Police Department. Dr. Minard has served in the Patrol Division as a patrol officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant, and commanded the patrol division as a Captain for 15 years. In addition, he served as the Assistant Coordinator of the Dutchess County Drug Task Force.
He currently serves as the second-in-command of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department
as the Administrative Captain. He holds an Associate in Applied Science degree in
Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Public
Administration degree, and a PhD in Human Services/Criminal Justice degree from Walden
University.
Dr. Minard has instructed several criminal justice classes at several universities
at the graduate and undergraduate level, including Ethical Leadership, Ethics in Criminal
Justice, Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, Criminal and Scientific Investigation,
Criminology, Criminal Justice Organization Administration, Juvenile Justice System,
Policing in America, History of Policing, Drug and Alcohol Use and Abuse, Criminal
Justice Technology, Correctional Policy and Practice, Assessing Organizational Performance,
Legal and Justice Research, Organized Crime, Criminal Justice Tech, and several others.
In 2018, Dr. Minard developed a new training curriculum for Ethics and Professionalism
training which was completed and adopted by the New York State Division of Criminal
Justice Services. This standardized training is now presented at all municipal police
training academies throughout New York State as required training for police recruits.
The newly-devised training includes contemporary police training in Ethics, Ethical
awareness, and Professionalism. He additionally attended a train-the-trainer Ethical
Policing is Courageous training conducted by the New Orleans Police Department. Dr.
Minard has instructed Ethical Awareness Training at several police academies for over
ten years, and currently instructs Ethics and Professionalism at police academies.
In addition, he has conducted Ethics and Professionalism Workshop Training throughout
New York State and instructed Ethical Policing at the FBI National Executive Institute.
He presented at the New York State Sheriffs Association 86th Annual Winter Conference in January 2020, where he provided an overview of Ethical
policing and an overview of the New Orleans Police Department EPIC Training Program.
He attended the 216th FBI National Academy session in 2004 and the FBI LEEDS Session
77 in 2018. Dr. Minard currently instructs Ethical Issues in the Criminal Justice
System for SUNY Delhi.
Lt. (Ret.) Christopher Murphy
Adjunct Instructor
Christopher Murphy attended SUNY Albany graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, joined the NYC Housing Police in 1993, assigned to PSA 7 in the South Bronx, and merged into the NYPD in 1995. He worked in the Narcotics Division, Bronx 44 module. He then was promoted to Sergeant in 1998 and assigned to the 40th precinct. While assigned to the 40th precinct, he was assigned to work on Patrol, Community Policing, Training, Domestic Violence and Crime Analysis.
While working as a Sergeant, he earned his master's degree in Criminal Justice from
John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Christopher was promoted to Lieutenant in 2006
and assigned to the Vice Enforcement Division, and then to the Organized Crime Investigation
Division. He retired in 2015, relocated to the Capital Region and began working as
the Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigations Division of NYS Tax and Finance.
He has been married for 25 years and has three kids - two girls and a boy. He is a
Giants/Yankees/Rangers fan and enjoys skiing and golf.
Ken Rulison
Adjunct Instructor
Ken Rulison has held the position of Victim Services Coordinator with the Schenectady
County District Attorney’s Office since 2001. As coordinator, Ken assists crime victims
through the criminal justice process as it pertains to the prosecution of criminal
offenders. He oversees three victim specialists and several student interns who assist
victims in accessing the NYS victim compensation program, provide short-term counseling
to crime victims, advocate to police, judges, and prosecutors, and educate the public
on rights of crime victims.
Ken has served as the Treasurer of The Capital District Coalition for Crime Victims
Rights; now known as The Capital District Crime Victim Taskforce. In 2006, the Coalition
honored Ken for his dedicated service to crime victims. His passion for criminal justice
extends to the field of teaching where he has served as an Adjunct Professor at Schenectady
County Community College teaching courses such as Corrections, Criminology, Introduction
to Criminal Justice, Juvenile Delinquency, and Current Issues in Criminal Justice;
and at SUNY Delhi where he has taught Victimology, Ethics in Criminal Justice, and
Treatment of Offenders. In his spare time, Ken is an avid fly fisherman and enjoys
fishing the streams of the Catskill Mountains. He is married to his wife Christina
and resides in Rotterdam, NY.
Rachel Seeber
Adjunct Instructor
seeberre@delhi.edu
Dr. Seeber Conine is an adjunct lecturer for the criminal justice departments. She
received her bachelor’s degree from SUNY PolyTech in psychology and her master’s from
Boston University in criminal justice and her Ed.D. from The University of New England
in education.
Her main research interests and dissertation focus on student disclosures and instructors’
responses of personal trauma in the online classroom. Rachel has over two decades
of experience advocating for crime victims at the local, state and federal levels
of government and has served nearly eight years in local government as a supervisor
at large in Queensbury, N.Y.
In addition to her previous service on numerous state and federal boards, including
being appointed to the New York Association of Counties Women’s Advisory Board, Rachel
was the first woman to be elected as the chair of the Warren County Board of Supervisors
in 2021. She continues to teach Criminal Justice, Gender Studies and Education courses,
as well a curriculum design with several colleges and Universities across the Country
and in NYS. Dr. Seeber Conine also owns her own small business in her free time and
specializes in student abroad travel experiences, exploring comparative criminal justice
within the field of victimology and victim assistance.
David Van Aken
Adjunct Instructor
I would prefer if you called me Mr. V, Mr. Van Aken, or Professor Van Aken. I was born in Saratoga Springs, NY in January of 1954, and moved 21 miles south to Clifton Park after the fourth grade. I graduated from Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, NY in 1972.
I have a Bachelor and a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology, with a concentration
in historical archaeology, from the University at Albany. I have a second master's
degree in Military History from Norwich University. I am married and have four children
- all boys. I live with my wife, Kathy, and our youngest, Kevin, in Schenectady, NY.
My experience in education includes teaching vocational education at a local residential
living-center school for disadvantaged youth, GED courses at a state correctional
facility, Social and Global Studies in a state correctional facility for youth, and
at a local high school. I taught full time for five years at the Albany ITT Technical
Institute where I taught Sociology, DC and AC Electronics, Professional Procedures
and Portfolio Development, and Group Dynamics.
At present, I am a full-time, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Sociology, and
History at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY where I have been employed
for over 18 years. And, as you have probably guessed, I am an adjunct instructor of
anthropology for ANTH-300, Survey of World Cultures for SUNY Delhi. I first started
teaching in the U.S. Navy as a Shipboard Instructor (certified 1980) on the USS Ulysses
S. Grant, SSBN 631, a nuclear powered, fleet ballistic missile submarine where I served
four years as a second class petty officer in the Interior Communications Division.
I am also a certified scuba diving instructor (#10547) by the National Association
of Underwater Instructors (NAUI - 1988), but I am retired from teaching scuba diving.
If you count 1980 as my start in the life of the profession of teaching, I have been
practicing this for over 40 years. I am one of the original archaeological survey
team members that found - utilizing side scan-sonar - and surveyed - utilizing SCUBA
gear - the Lake George Rideau, Land Tortoise, in 1990. This vessel, lying in 107 feet
of water, is virtually intact and dates to the French and Indian War. It was constructed
and sunk in 1758 and is considered to be the oldest intact warship on the North American
continent.
My research and fieldwork on this vessel culminated in a published paper in a field
report to the State of New York (1994). A derivative of this paper was my Master's
Thesis at the University at Albany. I am, by training, an underwater archaeologist.