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Gordon, Albanese Recognized As Outstanding Mentors

Two Criminal Justice faculty members received the 2016 Outstanding Mentor Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences during its recent conference in Denver.

Jill Gordon, Ph.D., associate dean of faculty and academic affairs, and Jay Albanese, Ph.D., chair of the Criminal Justice Program, were honored as outstanding mentors for making a significant contribution to the professional development of graduate students and junior faculty members in criminal justice.

Christina Mancini, assistant professor of Criminal Justice, nominated Gordon and Albanese.

Mancini described Gordon, former chair of the Criminal Justice program, as a “fantastic colleague” and “exceptional mentor” who encouraged her to pursue funded and community engagement projects, supports and is actively engaged with graduate students. Mancini also cited Gordon’s passion for teaching and extensive record of service to the criminal justice discipline.

“(S)he is genuinely concerned about others and enthusiastic about their success,” Mancini wrote of Gordon. “To me, those characteristics embody a true mentor.”

Albanese, a prolific author and former chief of the international division of the National Institute of Justice, inspires his colleagues and students. Mancini wrote that he’s reviewed numerous articles of hers and provided feedback, and provided encouragement as she was finalizing a recent textbook.

Albanese “is an exemplary scholar who has used his expertise to mentor and support many individuals,” Mancini wrote, someone who “has made an indelible mark in the field over his many years of service.”