¹ú²úÂ鶹

DR. NATALIA TAPIA
Professor | Program Director, Graduate Criminal Justice
Undergraduate Advising: Last name beginning with A, B, J, T
tapiana@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5085 | BE-176

Education:
Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University (‘11)
M.S. in Criminal Justice, University of North Texas (‘04)
J.D. in Law, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (‘02)
B.J.S. in Juridical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (‘00)

Courses/Focus Areas, Graduate:
Applied Research Methods
Criminology
Ethics and Integrity
Police Civil Liability

Professional Background: Dr. Tapia has worked as a Security Investigator for the U.S. Department of State and as a Legal Counselor for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She has also done research for non-governmental organizations in the areas of family violence and prisoners’ rights. Her main areas of academic and teaching expertise are Criminology, Research Methods, Criminal Law, and the Intersections of Race, Gender and Crime.

Research Interests: Dr. Tapia’s research interests include state violence and human rights violations, political corruption, race and crime, female offenders and victims, prisoners’ rights, and elder abuse. She regularly presents her work at annual conferences such as the American Society of Criminology, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the American Correctional Association. She has published numerous research pieces in addition to book reviews at top-tier peer-reviewed journals such as The Prison Journal, Criminal Law Bulletin, Social Science Review, Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, and Race and Justice.

TAMMY THURMAN
Associate Professor | Program Director, Undergraduate Criminal Justice and Forensic Criminal Investigation
Undergraduate Advising: Last names beginning with C, D, E
thurmata@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5084 | BE-174 |

Education:
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Chicago
LL.M. in Child & Family Law, Loyola University Chicago (‘04)
J.D., Northern Illinois University (‘99)
M.S.W., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (‘94)
B.S. in Social Work, Illinois State University (‘90)

Courses/Focus Areas:
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure
The Court System
Social Policy
Juvenile Justice

Professional Background:
Dr. Thurman is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and member of the Illinois Bar. Before coming to ¹ú²úÂ鶹, she worked for Child Welfare, Community Mental Health and Public Interest Law conducting fields studies and delivering lectures on issues related to female juvenile delinquency and incarceration.

Research Interests:
Dr. Thurman’s current research agenda purports to ameliorate the history of neglect of girls in juvenile justice research and contribute to the growing body of knowledge about the experience of girls in the juvenile justice system.

DR. VESNA MARKOVIC
Professor
Undergraduate Advising: Last names beginning with F, G, H, I
vmarkovic@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5039 | BE-178
|

Education:
Ph.D in Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University (‘09)
M.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago (‘99)
B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago (‘95)

Courses/Focus Areas:
Terrorism
Graduate Applied Research Methods 1 & 2
Research Methods (Undergrad)
Criminal and Psychological Profiling
Criminal Investigations
Organized Crime
Homeland Security

Professional Background:
Dr. Markovic has developed a robust career in criminal justice, focusing on terrorism and other areas of organized crime. She began her professional career in academia as an assistant professor at the University of New Haven, and eventually became Assistant Dean for the College of Criminal Justice. She also served as Principal Investigator and obtained several grants for the institution and at Sam Houston State University prior to that. Upon obtaining her doctoral degree, she became the Director of the Institute for the Study of Violent Groups (ISVG). She previously worked as a Private Investigator doing corporate due diligence Investigations at Search International.

Research Interests:
Dr. Markovic’s research interests include terrorism, transnational crime and comparative criminal justice.

DR. SHANON GILLETTE
Assistant Professor, Program Director, Department Chair
gilletsh@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5949| BE-177

Education:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Leadership Studies, Johnson University (2021)
M.S. in Public Safety Administration, ¹ú²úÂ鶹 University (2012)
B.A. in Management, Benedictine University (2010)

Courses/Focus Areas:
Public Safety Administration and Management
Fiscal Management for Public Safety Administrators
Public Safety Leadership, Theory and Practice
Public Safety Training-Management and Development
Ethics, Integrity and Social Responsibility
Labor Relations in the Public Sector
Human Resource Management
Multicultural Diversity
Organizational Behavior in Public Safety Systems
Research Methods

Professional Background:
Shanon Gillette is an Assistant Professor, Department Chair and Program Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Justice, Law and Public Safety Studies. Prior to joining ¹ú²úÂ鶹, he served as a police officer in Downers Grove, Illinois, for over 29 years and retired as Chief of Police in 2023. He holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Johnson University and a Master of Science in Public Safety Administration from ¹ú²úÂ鶹 University. Dr. Gillette is a graduate of the 263rd session of the FBI National Academy and a graduate of the 252nd session of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command.

Research Interests
Dr. Gillette’s research interests include law enforcement ethics, leadership decision-making, and building trust between the police and the community.

DR. STEPHEN L. SHERWIN
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Advising: Last names beginning with P, Q, R, U, V
sherwist@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5651 | BE-181

Education:
Ed.D in Leadership in Adult and Higher Education, Aurora University (‘19)
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Illinois Institute of Technology (‘02)
B.A. in Criminal Justice, Saint Xavier University (‘99)

Courses/Focus Areas:
Mediation/Conflict Resolution
Criminalistics
Criminal Investigation
Psychological Profiling
Intelligence Gathering
Domestic Violence
Professionalism and Ethics

Professional Background:
Dr. Sherwin has over 38 years of experience in law enforcement - specifically with the Chicago Police Department - and has been a supervisor for 20 years. During his time with CPD, he was trained as a Peer Support Member and also served as a Commanding Officer for CPD recruit training. He is a trained mediator and member of the Chicago and National Association of Dispute Resolution (ADR) Chapters, and put that experience to good use by training mediators to develop mediation centers as well as training police departments and civilians in conflict resolution and mediation. He also assists in court mediations and serves as an expert witness.

Research Interests:
Dr. Sherwin’s research interests include higher education to improve police/citizen relations, improving policing methods, mediation and conflict resolution benefits, and police ethics.

DR. MORRIS JENKINS
Associate Professor
Undergraduate Advising: Last names beginning with K ,S
mjenkins4@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5686 | BE-183 |

Education:
Ph.D. in Law, Policy and Society, Northeastern University (‘94)
J.D., Stetson University (‘85)
B.A. in Social Sciences, Claflin (College) University (‘82)

Courses/Focus Areas, Undergraduate:
Criminology
Corrections and Probation
Criminal Procedure
Criminal Law
Social Policy and Social Justice
Ethics

Courses/Focus Areas, Graduate:
Issues in Juvenile Crime

Professional Background:
Dr. Jenkins is a trained mediator (Consumer, Family and Victim/Offender) and served as a Restorative Justice Facilitator and Law-Related Education Trainer. He began his career in academia as a Professor at multiple institutions, including Quinsigamond Community College, Curry College, Penn State University, University of Toledo and finally Southeast Missouri State University. He eventually became Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Southeast Missouri State University before coming to ¹ú²úÂ鶹.

Research Interests:
Dr. Jenkins’ research interests include restorative justice, alternatives to the criminal/justice system, first amendment issues, ascribed statuses and criminal justice, and ethics and jury nullification.

HUMA ZIA
Associate Professor | Program Director, Paralegal Studies
Undergraduate Advising: Last names beginning with W, X, Y, Z and Paralegal Studies Students
ziahu@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5620 | BE-177

Education:
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law (‘94)
B.A. in Political Science, Dominican University (‘91)

Courses/Focus Areas, Undergraduate:
Introduction to Paralegal Studies
Fundamentals of Litigation
Paralegal Capstone
Elements of Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure

Courses/Focus Areas, Graduate:
Graduate Criminal Law
Graduate Criminal Procedure
Civil Liability and Public Safety Law

Professional Background: Huma Zia is a Licensed Attorney in the State of Illinois and served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in the Criminal Appeals Division. During her time there, she argued cases before the federal district courts, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and filed motions in the U.S. Supreme Court. She also argued cases in all the state district appellate courts and frequently argued cases in the Illinois Supreme Court. In addition to bringing her law experience and expertise to students at ¹ú²úÂ鶹, Ms. Zia obtained approval of the Undergraduate Paralegal Program by the American Bar Association for the university. She currently serves as a Sole Practitioner in Elmhurst and concentrates on Pro-Bono Cases.

Research Interests: Ms. Zia’s research interests include clemency petitions, search and seizure laws, and constitutionality of state and federal laws on traffic stops. She also participates at the annual American Bar Association clemency workshops for the State of Illinois.

HUMA ZIA
Associate Professor | Program Director, Paralegal Studies
Undergraduate Advising: Last names beginning with W, X, Y, Z and Paralegal Studies Students
ziahu@lewisu.edu | (815) 836-5620 | BE-177

Education:
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law (‘94)
B.A. in Political Science, Dominican University (‘91)

Courses/Focus Areas, Undergraduate:
Introduction to Paralegal Studies
Fundamentals of Litigation
Paralegal Capstone
Elements of Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure

Courses/Focus Areas, Graduate:
Graduate Criminal Law
Graduate Criminal Procedure
Civil Liability and Public Safety Law

Professional Background: Huma Zia is a Licensed Attorney in the State of Illinois and served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in the Criminal Appeals Division. During her time there, she argued cases before the federal district courts, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and filed motions in the U.S. Supreme Court. She also argued cases in all the state district appellate courts and frequently argued cases in the Illinois Supreme Court. In addition to bringing her law experience and expertise to students at ¹ú²úÂ鶹, Ms. Zia obtained approval of the Undergraduate Paralegal Program by the American Bar Association for the university. She currently serves as a Sole Practitioner in Elmhurst and concentrates on Pro-Bono Cases.

Research Interests: Ms. Zia’s research interests include clemency petitions, search and seizure laws, and constitutionality of state and federal laws on traffic stops. She also participates at the annual American Bar Association clemency workshops for the State of Illinois.