"NINE QUESTIONS WITH DR. GAILEY"

 

What were your first impressions of TCU? 

I was really impressed with both the campus and the people at TCU.  Everyone was really nice and friendly.  I also liked the fact that TCU emphasizes both teaching and research because both are important, but so often you have to choose in academics.

 

What are your areas of interest (academic)?   I have many interests but mainly I study public perceptions of organizational wrongdoing (white collar crime), masculinities, and violence against women.

 

Why did you choose criminology/criminal justice?  I’ve always been interested in crime, law, and social behaviors.  Initially I wanted to be a lawyer, but I soon realized that I probably didn't have the right personality because it would be difficult for me to prosecute someone who could be innocent or defend someone who could be guilty.  A professor encouraged me to go to grad school and I realized that I could still study crime, law, and social behavior by doing research in criminology.

 

What is your fondest memory of college?

That's hard... probably graduating!

 

What are your hobbies?

I like to work out, which includes running, aerobics, and lifting weights.  I also enjoy going to concerts (all kinds), watching movies, and watching football.  I'm a huge Steelers fan (pretty much since birth), so watching football is something I devote a lot of time to in the fall/winter.

 

What have you found most interesting about living in Fort Worth?  I like the fact that the area is growing and diverse.  I also like the combination of the large city features with the smaller city feel.  And it's really pretty here, hot, but pretty and there are a ton of things to do.

 

What is your teaching philosophy?

I really stress independent and critical thinking.  I want my students to have enough resources to be critical and knowledgeable consumers of information.  In class I prefer discussion and debate to lecture because it makes the subject matter “real”.  The “facts” are in the book, I see class as a time to learn how to use those facts and challenge them with competing ones.

 

Favorite movie and why?
That's difficult, I'm really bad at remembering movies and I like so many.  But I love Silence of the Lambs, the American Pie movies, and Meet the Parents.  I don't have one favorite, I like movies that keep me on the edge of my seat, but I really like comedies too.

 

Any info about family, pets, etc.?

I'm not married, but I do have two cats; Tazz (she’s a 17-year-old calico) and Mr. Whiskers (aka Buddy, he’s an 8-year-old Himalayan).