Events
- Annual Convention
- Great Teaching Round-up
- Leading from the middle
- fall conference for faculty leaders
- Webinars
"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision."
Events: 2009 Criminal Justice Schedule
Criminal Justice Summary
Friday, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
"FACE-ing the Nameless"
Speaker: Suzanne Birdwell, Forensic Artist, Texas Rangers
Saturday, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
"Restorative Justice"
Speaker: John Fisher, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Howard College
Friday, February 20th, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
"FACE-ing the Nameless"
Speaker: Suzanne Birdwell, Forensic Artist, Texas Rangers
Biography:
Texas Ranger Forensic Artist Suzanne Birdwell received an Associate of Arts degree in Spanish, with honors, followed by a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from Texas State University, majoring in Criminal Justice with emphases in Forensic Psychology and Anthropology. Along with a range of art studies throughout her life, Ms. Birdwell has over 500 hours in specific forensic art and post mortem remains training from various venues across the country including:
The Scottsdale Artists’ Institute, AZ
The University of TX Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX
The Secret Service Training Academy, Beltsville, MD
The Forensic Anthropology Center at TX State University (FACTS), San Marcos, TX
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Ashburn, VA
The University of North Texas Center for Human Identity, Ft. Worth, TX
and numerous police departments across the country. These studies range from: interviewing for and developing composite drawings for current crimes (in both English and Spanish), to forensic techniques regarding clandestine human remains, to age-progression of adults, to facial reconstruction on or from a skull, to developing artistic renderings of post mortem remains and their associated articles.
In her duties as the Forensic Artist for the Texas Rangers, which is a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety, she travels the state assisting local, county, state, military and federal agencies with putting a face and hopefully, ultimately an identity to the nameless, be they suspects or victims. She works in tandem with Texas DPS’ Missing and Unidentified Persons’ Clearinghouse, headquartered in Austin, and also presents Forensic Art methods, possibilities, and case studies at Law Enforcement training opportunities.
Outside of her commitments to forensic investigations, she recently enjoyed the honor of being asked to develop the faces of the famed Guanajuato Mummies. She is currently working on the long-term project; the naturally mummified remains of over 100 men, women, children and infants of Guanajuato, Mexico are currently under non-invasive scientific study by a team of experts for the first time since their discovery.
Saturday, February 21st, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
"Restorative Justice"
Speaker: John Fisher, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Howard College
Biography:
John F. Fisher has received his Master's of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, and a Master's of Arts in Public Administration and Political Science from Sul Ross State University. John Fisher has over 5 years of practical experience as a Correctional Officer for Corrections Corporation of America and as a Probation Officer for the State of Texas where he specialized in Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse. John Fisher has been the Professor of Criminal Justice at Howard College since 2006. John Fisher has researched terrorism and its effects on the United States for 22 years. Currently pursuing Ph.D. in Human Services Specializing in Criminal Justice at Walden University.
Criminal Justice Section Chair: John Fisher, Howard College