Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology Awards

April 24, 2024

This year we recognized outstanding service and achievements with scholarships, awards, and other forms of appreciation.

Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award

David Makin, PhD

David Makin, Smiling — David Makin, Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology Alumni (2012)

We are proud to announce that the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology awarded the Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award to David Makin (PhD) for his remarkable scholarly contributions. Makin is an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and is the director of the Complex Social Interaction Lab at Washington State University. Under his direction, the Complex Social Interaction Lab has processed over 40,000 hours of BWC (body worn camera) footage for police departments on a range of projects including improving the use of procedural justice, examining differential decision-making within police community interactions, enhancing CIT (crisis intervention team) training, examining the application of trauma informed practices within domestic violence contacts, and most recently projects seeking to understand the use of de-escalation and non-escalation strategies and tactics.

Initiated in 2010, the Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of our alumni and is determined by the faculty within the department. Join us in congratulating Makin’s dedication to advancing the field of criminal justice and criminology.

David Makin, at podium — David Makin, Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology Alumni (2012)

Dale Willits and David Makin, award — Dale Willits, Interim Chair, and David Makin, Associate Professor

Community Partner Award

Martin Martinez

Please join us in congratulating Martin Martinez as the recipient of the Community Partner Award. Martinez is the community relations manager for the Broetje Family Trust and Tierra Vida Community. Established in 2018, the Community Partner Award recognizes outstanding work and support to the department by one or more individuals within our community of partners beyond the university.

Appreciation Award

Heather Schneider

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology would like to congratulate Heather Schneider as the recipient of the Appreciation Award, which recognizes outstanding support to the department within our WSU community. Within her role as an instructional designer with Academic Outreach and Innovation (AOI), she has been a tremendous help to our faculty in building and designing online Canvas space.