Category: SharkBytes

Fred Turner, Ph.D.

Fred Turner, Ph.D., graduate of NSU’s School of Criminal Justice, has published a book with Springer, Police Militarization: Policy Changes and Stakeholders’ Opinions in the United States. The book examines the level of support for aspects of police militarization, and offers valuable insight into policymaker and law enforcement perspectives on police militarization in the United States.

Turner is currently the Chair for Criminal Justice and Homeland Security programs in the Graduate School at Keiser University in Fr. Lauderdale. He has over 12 years of combined experience serving in the military and as an Intelligence Analyst with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role as an Intelligence Analyst, he maintained effective working relationships with counterparts in law enforcement and the intelligence community. Dr. Turner also served as an Immigration Officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)/Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, in which he coordinated efforts with other programs within USCIS and the DHS to maintain working relationships with external agencies (e.g. intelligence and law enforcement agencies).

In addition to his book, Turner has also had the peer reviewed journal, Police Practice and Research published. He earned his doctorate degree with NSU in 2016.

To learn more about the book, Police Militarization: Policy Changes and Stakeholders’ Opinions in the United States, please click here.

Zhiwei Wang

Zhiwei Wang, doctoral student in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), gave a presentation at the 5th Annual International Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, sponsored by International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation at Queens College. The conference theme was “Traditional Systems of Conflict Resolution.”

Wang’s presentation was entitled, “China’s Characteristic Mediation Model.” In addition to his studies at NSU, Wang has a master’s degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Murray State University. While at NSU, he has been active in the Conflict Prevention Working Group and the Chinese Scholars and Students Association.

Kipi Fleming, Ph.D., 2015 doctoral graduate of the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), is faculty and the program director for the programs in Conflict Management and Resolution and Organizational Development at Abilene Christian University-Dallas.

In addition to her doctoral degree from NSU, Fleming earned an M.A. in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Abilene Christian University. She volunteers at the Dallas County Dispute Resolution Center as a mediator.

Lama Hakem, Ph.D., graduate of the doctoral program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is an assistant professor at Dar AL-Hekma University in Saudi Arabia. She teaches in the Department of Human Resources in the School of Business. Her courses include negotiation, conflict resolution, and organizational behavior.

Prior to earning her doctoral degree at NSU, Hakem earned an M.S. in Engineering Management at Florida Institute of Technology and a B.A. in Mathematics at King Abdul-Aziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Aeryel Williams, 2015 graduate of the M.S. in College Student Affairs in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Her expected graduation is 2020. While completing her degree, Williams is serving as a graduate assistant at LSU.

In addition to her M.S. from NSU, Williams holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Management and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Central Florida. Previously she worked as the Director of Student Services at Everglades University, EMPA Program Coordinator at Florida International University, and Residence Life Coordinator at Dillard University.

Cheryl Duckworth, Ph.D., faculty in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) has contributed a chapter to the book, The Changing Dynamics of Terrorism and Violent Extremism: An Analysis, Vol I. Duckworth’s chapter is entitled, “Learning after 9/11:Muslim Students Speak for Themselves in the US.”

The two volumes were a result of a conference, “45^th Annual Conference of the Southern African Society of Educators.” The conference was held last fall in Capetown, South Africa. Mustafa Yusuf Ali, Ph.D., Mumo Nzau, Ph.D., and Hassan Khannenje, Ph.D. edited the volumes.  Khannenje is a graduate of the doctoral program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in DCRS.

He is the Director of The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies in Kenya. The Institute is also the publisher of the volumes.

For more information, please see: https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Dynamics-Terrorism-Violent-Extremism-ebook/dp/B07L99BTWX/

Aura Rojas, M.S.

Aura Rojas, M.S., 2015 graduate of the M.S in National Security Affairs (now the M.S. in National Security Affairs and International Relations) is a Captain in the United States Army. Currently she is serving as the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Officer at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to her current assignment, she served at the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) where she was responsible for coordinating and assisting all matters related to the State Partnership Program, a Department of Defense program that is managed by the National Guard that oversees all the partnerships with more than 20 countries in Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

According to Rojas, “The greatest gift I received from my experience at Nova was one of my professors, who inspired me to believe that my story needed to be shared. We are unique and diverse; we have a story to tell, a story that can change someone else’s life. I was born and raised in Colombia, South America, and for so many years, it was difficult for me to accept the fact that I was different. I just wanted to fit the American standard; but little did I know that what makes me so valuable and special is how different I am, and how much I can help and serve others through my uniqueness. My life changed after my years at Nova, and today my job is to tell my story and motivate others to respect and accept each other through their uniqueness. I have been serving in the military for several years, but my military career was greatly impacted after the education I received at Nova, not only was my intellect developed, but the personal relations I developed changed my life forever.”

Toran Hansen, Ph.D., is a master’s graduate of the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), was the guest editor of ACR Quarterly, the Journal of the Association for Conflict Resolution. The special issue was titled, Colloquy on Restorative Justice, Part I, Volume 36, Issue 2, Winter 2018. Hansen wrote, “Introduction to Restorative Justice Colloquy,” and co-authored the article, “State of Knowledge: Four Decades of Victim-Offender Mediation Research and Practice: The Evidence,” with Mark Umbriet, Ph.D.

In addition to his degree from NSU, Hansen received his Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. He is currently an associate professor at Salisbury University Prior to relocating to Maryland; Hansen was an assistant professor in DCRS. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea, West Africa and worked with medium to high-risk juvenile offenders for the Focus Foundation of Canada.