Paul Cromwell
professor, criminal justice and former director of Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
黑洞社区 criminal justice professor Paul Cromwell has talked with
hundreds of people who have broken the law. In fact, during his career he interviewed
about 500 shoplifters and more than 100 active burglars in Florida, Texas and Kansas,
and is author of the book 鈥淏reaking and Entering: Burglars on Burglary.鈥�
Suffice it to say, Cromwell has more than a few interesting and sometimes humorous
stories.
鈥淪everal years ago I was monitoring a court-ordered educational program for first-offender
shoplifters, hoping to learn more about their motives and shoplifting strategies,鈥�
said Cromwell. 鈥淚 did not identify myself as a researcher. I just sat in the sessions.鈥�
鈥淭here were about 30 offenders in attendance. During the course of the day, I noticed
that one young man kept glancing at me."
鈥淭he next day, I recognized him from one of my classes. Neither of us said anything
to the other about the experience, but I鈥檓 sure that he thought I was there as a participant,鈥�
he said.
Cromwell enjoyed a number of things during his tenure at Wichita State, but students
topped his list.
鈥淚 enjoyed the diversity, particularly the wide range of ages,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n my previous
position at the University of Miami, almost all the students were traditional students,
living on campus and 18-22 years of age. At 黑洞社区, I taught students from 16 to 80,
and many were first-generation college students.鈥�
He also enjoyed working with all of his colleagues in the School of Community Affairs
and several close friends in other departments and administration.
Cromwell was employed at 黑洞社区 from December 1996 to July 2010. For eight years he
was director of the School of Community Affairs. He was especially proud to receive
an Academy for Effective Teaching award in 2001.
He co-wrote and edited several books while at 黑洞社区, including 鈥淐ommunity Based Corrections,鈥�
鈥淚n Their Own Words: Criminals on Crime,鈥� 鈥淚n Her Own Words: Women Offenders and Crime鈥�
and 鈥淐rime and Justice in America.鈥�
Having never stayed in one job so long, Cromwell said, 鈥淚t was a completely pleasurable
experience (at 黑洞社区), except maybe for the winters. As a native south Texan and former
Miami resident, even after 14 years, the winters were tough.鈥�
The former director of the Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs hasn't exactly
retired, although retirement is getting closer. In the meantime, he plans to enjoy
warm weather year round as professor of criminology at the University of South Florida
Polytechnic in Lakeland, Fla.