News

Jill Gordon to Become Wilder School’s Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs

Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs news and events

By Pamela Stallsmith

Jill Gordon, Ph.D., the chair of the Wilder School’s Criminal Justice program since 2011, will become the associate dean for faculty and academic affairs effective January 1. Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., who’s held the associate dean position since the Wilder School became independent, will return to the classroom and her research while chairing the school’s Ph.D. program committee.

“Dr. Gordon brings strong experience and capability to the position. She has led our Criminal Justice program–the largest in the school and the fourth-largest undergraduate major in the university–with distinction,” said Dean Niraj Verma. “She will be excellent in this new role.”

Verma thanked Brubaker for serving with dedication and good judgment. “Dr. Brubaker brought great passion to this position. She will continue to be an asset to our Ph.D. program.”

Jay Albanese, Ph.D., a renowned criminologist, will serve as chair of the Criminal Justice program. “Dr. Albanese has previously served as a highly respected chair and I am delighted that he has agreed to this leadership role,” Verma said.

Gordon earned her bachelor’s in criminal justice from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and her master’s and doctorate in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. She has provided oversight on numerous school initiatives including SACS review, articulation agreements with community colleges and the development of the recent criminal justice policy concentration in the Ph.D. in Public Policy. Also, she is representing the Wilder School as a Recruitment and Inclusive Champion in a Provost office-led initiative.

Brubaker is a sociologist who earned her bachelor’s at James Madison University; her master’s at VCU; and her doctorate at the University of Delaware. Among her many accomplishments, she introduced structured mentoring, particularly of junior faculty and doctoral students. She created a post-baccalaureate certificate in Gender Violence Intervention in 2003. Along with her research and teaching responsibilities, she will continue to manage all promotion and tenure cases underway.

Albanese earned his bachelor’s in sociology and natural science at Niagara University and both his master’s and doctorate in criminal justice at Rutgers University. He served as chief of the International Center at the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice. He is the author of many articles and the author and editor of 18 books.