Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Office Location: Dunham Hall, Room 215
Telephone: 630-844-7532
Fax: 630-844-7830
E-mail Address: swhitus@aurora.edu
Dr. Whitus joined the faculty in the Criminal Justice Program in 2007. Before coming to AU, she taught for the Texas A&M University, California State University and University of South Carolina systems. Having experienced large universities, Dr. Whitus knew she wanted to be part of a university community of smaller class size and more involvement in student mentoring. She strives to prepare her students with practical and insightful solutions to "real-world" challenges, and is often described by students as an instructor who cares and goes "above and beyond" the contractual responsibilities of a professor.
Education
Ph.D. (Criminal Justice) - Sam Houston State University, College of Criminal Justice
M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration) - University of Texas
B.S. (Criminal Justice) - University of Texas
Areas of Specialization
Death-Sentenced and Life-Sentenced Populations
Special Needs Offenders and Correctional Populations
Child Maltreatment Sequelae
Technology-Enhanced Criminal Justice Education
Technology-Enhanced Training and Education for Correctional Personnel
Courses Taught
Criminal Justice System
Criminology
Juvenile Justice
Correctional Services
Research Methods
Selected Topics: Death Penalty in America
Highlights of Presentations, Honors and Professional Contributions
The Relationship between Childhood Abuse and Adult Perceptions of Abuse Perpetrators. Presented at the Midwestern Association of Criminal Justice, Chicago, IL, 2008.
Perceptions of Law Enforcement Administrators Regarding the Detection and Prosecution of Cyber-criminals. Presented at the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA, 2007.
Cheating Online: Results of Self-report Surveys of Academic Dishonesty among Undergraduates in Online Courses. Presented at the American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA, 2007.
Attitudes and Experiences in Juvenile Correctional Contexts. Panel Chair. American Society of Criminology, Atlanta, GA, 2007.
An Assessment of Technology-Enhanced Training Instruction among Selected Law Enforcement Agencies. Presented at the American Society of Criminology, Los Angeles, CA, 2006.
Technology in the Classroom: Teaching about Crime and Criminal Justice-Teaching through the Internet and Distance Learning. Panel Chair. American Society of Criminology, Los Angeles, CA, 2006.
Highlights of Campus Involvement
Faculty Advisor, Alpha Phi Sigma (National Criminal Justice Honor Society)
Co-Faculty Advisor, American Criminal Justice Association (with Dr. Kooi)
Director, Student Honor Projects
Sponsor, AU Football Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day
Leader, AU Retention Initiative
Faculty Development Committee
Other Interests
Because I'm a native Texan, it probably isn't surprising that my spare time is spent being a sports fanatic. The Cowboys and Longhorns consume my winter months, while I spend as many summer days as possible at Wrigley rooting for my long-loved Cubs. My office décor depicts related paraphernalia, from old framed photographs of penitentiaries to a giant State of Texas seal. I've been described as an impressive eater, having hit all 20 of the "best pizza places in Chicago." I'm still searching for real BBQ and fried okra, so please forward along recommendations.
