News
This summer, Dr. Chukwuedo will join the Racial Democracy, Crime and Justice Network (RDCJN) Summer Research Institute at the University of Maryland, where he will advance his book manuscript, Brick City Children: The Early Roots of Legal Estrangement. His research sits at the intersection of criminology, existentialist philosophy, and community ethics — exploring how preadolescent children in Newark, NJ confront questions of identity, alienation, and belonging as they navigate early encounters with legal institutions. Drawing on qualitative interviews with children ages 9–11, his work examines how legal estrangement shapes a child's emerging sense of self while raising deeper ethical questions about the obligations communities and legal systems owe to their most vulnerable members.
Danasia Kelly is a senior at Rutgers University majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. Originally from the Bronx, New York, she is deeply passionate about advocacy and using her voice to create meaningful change within underserved communities.
As a three-time transfer student, Danasia’s journey to Rutgers was shaped by resilience and determination. She has since found a true home at Rutgers, where she has fully invested herself in both her academic and extracurricular experiences. Throughout her time at the university, she has been actively involved in programs such as EOF and Student Support Services, served as an intern with the Rutgers University Police Department, and held a leadership role on the choir executive board.
Danasia aspires to become a Congresswoman, with a strong commitment to advocating for equitable policies and amplifying the voices of those who are often overlooked. Her time at Rutgers has not only strengthened her academic foundation but has also fueled her dedication to public service and lifelong advocacy.
Program Spotlight: Assistant Teaching Professor Mark Desire Meets King Charles III and Queen Camilla
We are proud to share that Mark Desire, Assistant Teaching Professor and Forensic Science Advisor in our program, was recently invited to attend a special visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
During the events of September 11, Professor Desire served as an Assistant Director with the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner. Despite sustaining injuries during the attacks, he returned to work the very next day – reporting on crutches in continued service during a time of immense need.
During this recent memorial visit, Professor Desire had the distinct honor of meeting Their Majesties, representing the strength, resilience, and dedication of those who served in the aftermath of one of the most significant moments in our nation's history.
We are honored to recognize Professor Desire’s service and his continued contributions to our academic community. His real-world experience brings invaluable perspective to our program and inspires the next generation of students.
View highlights from the event and media coverage below:
- https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/video/king-charles-queen-camilla-make-whirlwind-trip-to-nyc/ (CBS covers Mark Desire at minute 4:30)
- https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2026/04/29/king-charles-iii-and-queen-camilla-visit-9-11-memorial (NY1 covers Mark Desire at minute 1:57)
Noura Erakat, Professor of Africana Studies and Criminal Justice, has been bestowed the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Antwerp. This honorary doctorate, as described by Rector Herwig Leirs, reflects Professor Erakat’s “relentless commitment to advancing Palestinian rights, both through [her] outstanding scholarly work and [her] tireless engagement in the public and legal arenas.” Professor Erakat’s voice has been “central in connecting rigorous legal and political analyses with broader struggles for justice.” Dr. Erakat will be formally presented with the honorary degree in Antwerp, Belgium.
Announcements:
Honorary Doctorate Ceremony (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZF1YjBeNU4
Honorary Degrees 2026 (w/ video): https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/events/honorary-degrees/honorary-degrees-2026/
As noted by NPR, Professor Desire "oversees the testing of thousands of human remains recovered from Ground Zero and the surrounding area for genetic material that could link them to known victims. The medical examiner's office has tested all 21,905 remains recovered, from fragmented body parts to small shards of bone. But in many cases, it has taken technological advancements occurring over the course of years for any DNA to be extracted.” Professor Desire also leads the forensic science portfolio of the Criminal Justice Program at Rutgers University - New Brunswick. //
See additional coverage here:
https://www.fox5ny.com/video/1705268
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/9-11-anniversary/2025/09/09/world-trade-dna-9-11-identification
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/11/nx-s1-5526859/september-11-nyc-victims-identifying-lab-dna
Scientists still working to make September 11th DNA matches 24 years later - ABC7 New York
https://bronx.news12.com/meet-the-team-using-dna-to-identify-more-911-victims-24-years-later
I am pleased to announce that one of our graduating seniors, Pauline Kung, has received a Henry Rutgers Scholar Award for her interdisciplinary honors thesis, “Examining Perceptions of Campus Safety." Her thesis was supervised by Kevin Dahaghi. This award recognizes graduating seniors and exceptional juniors who have completed outstanding independent research projects leading to a thesis in their major field of study or an interdisciplinary thesis. These awards are offered across all departments of the School of Arts and Sciences and so represent only the very finest achievements of our students. Each recipient is recognized with an award of $1,000.
Congratulation to Pauline for this terrific accomplishment!
Paul Hirschfield
Criminal Justice Program Director
Professor Noura Erakat has been awarded the Amnesty International Chair by Ghent University in recognition of her scholarship and advocacy in furtherance of human rights, and “commitment to advocating for a vision of Palestine that encompasses justice, dignity, and the right to self-determination.”
Twenty-three years later, over a thousand families are still waiting for news of loved ones lost on 9/11. Rutgers Criminal Justice Professor Mark Desire speaks with 60 Minutes host Scott Pelley on how efforts to search for and identify their remains have never stopped.
Each year, awards for Distinguished Contributions to Undergraduate Education are given to professors and teaching assistants in the School of Arts and Sciences to recognize their outstanding achievements in and beyond the classroom, their engagement with their students and pedagogic communities, and their overall commitment to the undergraduate education mission. Since joining the Rutgers community in fall 2018, Dr. León has offered nine separate courses for students in Criminal Justice and in Latino and Caribbean Studies.
https://sas.rutgers.edu/about/news/sas-achievements/achievements-news-detail/2023-awards-for-distinguished-contributions-to-undergraduate-education
Rutgers Assistant Teaching Professor, Mark Desire was invited to discuss lessons learned from 9/11 at the University of Rhode Island. The unique long-running lecture series are open to students, faculty and the public. A link to the presentation can be found at https://www.uri.edu/news/2024/02/nyc-chief-medical-examiner-office-to-discuss-lessons-learned-from-9-11-at-uri/
In the aftermath of 9/11, Assistant Teaching Professor for the Program in Criminal Justice, Mark Desire, was tasked with identifying the remains of those who had been killed at the World Trade Center – work which remains unfinished 22 years after the attacks. Along with his team, in conversation with National 9/11 Museum Director, Clifford Chanin, he discusses his work, how it has helped facilitate and been aided by advancements in DNA identification technology, and how this project has assisted in the identification of victims of mass atrocities and disasters around the world. A link to the segment can be found at https://www.911memorial.org/events/forensic-science-wake-mass-atrocity
Each year at the Career Exploration and Success’s FIGS Celebration, they recognize 1-2 faculty members who have worked with their cohort of Peer Instructors for their outstanding support of their Peer Instructors. This year, Professor Luis Soto was nominated and awarded the “FIGS Faculty Mentor of the Year.”
The Criminal Justice Organization extends our sincere appreciation to all who generously donated toys and volunteered their time for our recent community engagement event supporting children facing adversity. Over 200 toys were collected and thoughtfully wrapped by more than 30 dedicated volunteers. We wish to thank Suydam St. Reformed Church, our community partner for this worthwhile cause.
Assistant Teaching Professor for the Program in Criminal Justice, Mark Desire, helped to identify the victims of the Gilgo Beach serial killer through state-of-the-art technology that was used to identify 9/11 victims. You can read the full article here.
Mark Desire also starred in ABC's award-winning podcast called "Start Here" on the episode regarding 9/11. This podcast won the 2023 Edward R Murrow Award for “Excellence in Sound!” A link to the episode can be found here.
The Program in Criminal Justice is proud to welcome three new faculty members to our team! Please click on each of their names to learn more about them.
Long-time CJ Assistant Teaching Professor, Robert (Bob) Szejner passed away on Saturday, June 17th after a courageous battle with cancer. Several faculty and staff, including me, spoke to him during the last several weeks and, despite his health issues, Professor Szejner was his usual upbeat, warm, and optimistic self, always thinking positively and thinking of others. So, we were very shocked and devastated to learn that he passed away so soon after.
Professor Szejner had been a vital member of the criminal justice program since 2006. During that time, thousands of students took his classes including Intro to CJ, Police, and Serial Crimes. He was also very proud of the fact that he acted “as the course facilitator for over 60 independent research courses, and 5 Honors Thesis courses.” Perhaps one of the most distinctive and important roles that Professor Szejner played and hopefully one from which some of you have benefitted was faculty advisor. Over the years, Professor Szejner advised countless students who were interested in criminal justice careers, especially in law enforcement. Having worked for nearly 30 years as a police officer in Trenton (1974 to 2003, retiring as Lieutenant), Professor Szejner was well-positioned to give tips and assistance with launching and advancing policing careers. Although I was never privy to his conversations with students, I can imagine based on my personal experience that they frequently included a funny anecdote or story from his career, a kernel of wisdom, a reassuring and disarming smile, and a sense that you were the only person that mattered to him at that moment.
Professor Szejner was a devoted teacher and mentor, a team player, and a genuinely kind and decent man. Although he is gone and leaves a hole in our Program that cannot be filled, his impact on our faculty, staff, and students will endure. And if we pass along some of Professor Szejner’s sage advice or emulate his kindness, his impact can endure forever. Here is a link to his obituary.
Yours,
Paul Hirschfield
Director, Program in Criminal Justice
Please join the Program in Criminal Justice for a talk given by Monica Bell on October 13th, 2022 in Tillett Hall, Room 226 at 4:00pm.
Monica Bell is an Associate Professor of Law and Sociology at Yale Law School. Her areas of research include law and sociology, policing and the criminal legal system, and race and the law. Her scholarship aims to center the voices and perspectives of people who experience legal exclusion and oppression.
The Program in Criminal Justice's Instructor, Mark Desire has been selected as the keynote speaker for the 32nd International Symposium on Human Identification. The event, which is the largest forensic symposium worldwide will be held on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 in Orlando, Florida. Please click on this link for more information: https://www.ishinews.com/
The Program in Criminal Justice's Assistant Professor, Noura Erakat has been selected as the recipient of the Law for the People Award by the National Lawyers Guild.
The Program in Criminal Justice is delighted to announce that Elizabeth Vignuolo (Criminal Justice, 2021) has been awarded a Henry Rutgers Scholar award for her senior honors thesis, "Overly Punitive and Under the Reform Radar: The Felony Murder Rule and its Unlikely Origins," under the supervision of Professor Lisa L. Miller (Political Science and Program in Criminal Justice). This is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations Lizzie!