News

Department Welcomes New Professor-August 2009
The department welcomes Dr. Filip Wiecko as our newest member of the Criminal Justice faculty. Dr. Wiecko recently completed his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Washington State University.

Mayo College Director and Professor of Sociology Receives Spirit of Mayo Award-August 2009
Dr. William Thompson, sociology professor and director of the Mayo College program for Texas A&M University-Commerce freshmen, has learned much about university founder William Leonidas Mayo along with his students in his 20 years at the university. On Thursday, Aug. 27, Thompson will be given the Spirit of Mayo award honoring him for following Mayo's credos of ceaseless industry, fearless investigation, unfettered thought, and unselfish service to others. "Dr. Thompson is an extraordinary individual who exemplifies the ideals of Professor Mayo," said Dr. Dan Jones, president of A&M-Commerce. "As the founding director of Mayo College, he gave life to a program that transformed the lives of thousands of students in its first decade of existence, and set high standards for those who will follow. We are fortunate indeed that Bill Thompson, many years ago, chose Texas A&M University-Commerce as his professional home." “I'm very humbled and extremely honored to receive an award named after and based on the principles of our university's founder," Thompson said. "It's gratifying even to be mentioned in the same breath as William L. Mayo. Meeting and working with so many new first-year students over the years, and watching them go on to become leaders in student government, breakout entertainment, Golden Leos, fraternities and sororities, and then in education, business, and industry, has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career and life," he said. Thompson began his administrative duties with Mayo College in Fall 1999 and the first cohort of students began the program in Fall 2000. Mayo College is a residential living experience for freshmen who take many of the same classes, learn about time management, leadership and other topics and adjust to college life. Thompson is a sociologist and professor in the A&M-Commerce sociology department who specializes in deviance, criminology, and juvenile delinquency. He has written several textbooks used in colleges and universities.

Professor Lectures in China

May 2009 Dr. Bill Thompson, professor of sociology and criminal justice and his wife, Marilyn Thompson, adjunct instructor of art, recently returned from two weeks in China. During their visit, Dr. Thompson presented two lectures at Shanghai Normal University and a lecture at the Institute of Juvenile Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Marilyn Thompson delivered a lecture on Art, Technology and Culture at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Serving as a liaison for A&M Commerce, the Thompsons explored the possibility of student and faculty exchange programs with Shanghai Normal University and research collaboration with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. While in China, they also visited Beijing, the Great Wall, visited the Forbidden City, Tian'an Men Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Prince Gong's Mansion, Imperial Palace, National Theatre and the Olympic Park's Bird's Nest and Water Cube.

Marilyn and Bill Thompson stand in front of a billboard announcing one of their lectures at Shanghai Normal University.

AKD Initiates - May 2009

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is pleased to announce the Spring 2009 initiates into Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honors Society:

• Stacy Boyd
• Heather Emory
• Scarlet Hart
• Brad Hendricks
• Ashley Johnson
• Joshua McGehee
• Brandon Murphy
• Amandah Norman
• Brittany Williams

AKD is an honors society that promotes human welfare through the association of a fellowship group interested in developing scientific knowledge that may be applied to the solution of social problems. Juniors with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher who have completed at least 4 sociology courses with a 3.0 GPA or higher are invited to join. The department is very proud of our newest initiates for having earned this honor!

Criminal Justice Program to be Offered at Eastfield College:

The Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice at Texas A&M University-Commerce has entered into a partnership with Eastfield Community College in Mesquite, Texas to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Through face-to-face and online courses, students will be able to complete their Bachelor's degree from A&M-Commerce completely from the Eastfield campus. The course Criminal Justice 420: Crime Profiling will be offered during the Summer II session. In the Fall, Sociology 331: Introduction to Social Research and Criminal Justice 360: Mass Media and Crime will both be offered in Mesquite. Please see the Schedule of Classes for more information or contact Renda Garner at: tamuctc@dcccd.edu for admission and/or registration assistance.