I was sitting in a faculty luncheon and some administrator was talking about the history of the institution and the responsibilities of being a university professor.  As I listened, I thought to myself, “Man these dudes really take it all seriously.”  Prior to this lunch, I had always viewed the academic process and lifestyle as more fun than anything else. It suddenly shifted to being a profession.  It's still fun but involves a lot of paperwork.     

What are your areas of interest (academic)?

I bounce around.  Something will strike me and I’ll want to read about it, research it and share the information.  I have been historically tied to corrections, organized crime and evaluation research.  I also truly enjoy media studies and looking at how the press effects our perception of crime and criminals.

  
Why did you choose criminology/criminal justice?

I read a book, Helter Skelter, about Charles Manson when I was a kid…maybe 10 or 11.  I have been interested in criminology ever since that time.  In my late twenties I began working with troubled children and the juvenile justice system.  The emotional impact this experience had on me pretty much cemented my direction.  Criminal justice often times deals in human tragedy and I wanted to help.

 
What is your fondest memory of college?

I went to UC Berkeley as an undergraduate and had a great time.  I was raised a small-town kid and the university experience truly challenged me to grow as a person.  One professor, Gene Simmons (not the bassist for Kiss), had a major impact through his “Anthropology of Religion” class.  He is one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met.  He opened my eyes to world and a world of perspectives.  I was a "dormie" and we also threw some Hellish parties.  I would elaborate but I’d like to keep my job.  

What are your hobbies?

I collect antique children’s books, travel quite a bit and write about the experiences, and enjoy horseback riding/hiking in the high mountains.  My kids are a big part of my life and I tend to pick up what ever they are currently interested in.  I’ve have three boys, a veritable baboon troop, and we all take joy in driving my ever-patient wife crazy.

What have you found most interesting about living in Fort Worth?

The amount of money that various patron families have poured into Fort Worth’s cultural district has truly made the city unique.  We have world-class museums and concert halls and a nationally recognized zoo.  For a town this size, it is all pretty amazing.

What is your teaching philosophy? 

I believe that study is the essence of education.  As a professor I believe I need to provide materials to inspire thought and present them in a way to require consistent and concerted study.  I want the students who leave here to have an education; not simply a degree.

Favorite movie and why?

I tend to favor films that are visually interesting.  Apocalypse Now has been a long standing favorite.  More recently I felt Sin City was well worth the watch.  I also have a taste for base comedy.  Team America and Jackass: The Movie, as appalling as they are to my wife, would be my dream double feature.   

Any info about family, pets, etc.?

I have three boys ages 7, 13 and 14.  They are all good kids with a range of interests.  All seem to share my sense of humor which creates a certain incorrigibility of personality.  My wife is both beautiful and intelligent.  Looking at me, most people recognize I married up.  My dog, Buster, started out as a Great Pyrenees puppy but has since turned into a 130-pound meatloaf.  My cat, Rainy, is second only to my wife in relation to whose opinion matters in the household.