Practical, Flexible: The Real World Starts Here!
All members of the faculty in Tiffin University’s School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences come to the classroom with real-world experience. Along with this expertise come real connections that will enable you to find internships and job opportunities that can make an immediate impact. We always put you, the student, first, and want to provide you with an education for real life.
Below are brief biographies of just a few of our faculty, but they are representative of the kind of talent that Tiffin University has teaching in the classroom. At TU, we’re all about making it real!
Dr. Timothy Shaw
Dean of the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences
and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
B.A., Muskingum College in 1977 in Education
J.D., Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit School of Law
Dr. Shaw joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in March of 1985. He retired from active service in February, 2006 and is a 21-year veteran of the bureau.
As an FBI agent, Dr. Shaw investigated complex criminal and terrorism matters. During Dr. Shaw’s career, he received three Awards for Exceptional performance and two Outstanding Law Enforcement of the Year Awards from the Southern District of Florida, and 16 different Letters of Commendation for investigative, administrative and tactical efforts.
Throughout Dr. Shaw’s career, he has been active in training for all levels of law enforcement. He has provided training in the areas of Legal Instruction, Major Case Management, Street Survival, SWAT Tactics and Terrorism. Dr. Shaw has written affidavits for Federal Search Warrants, Criminal Complaints, Title III Wire Communication Intercepts, and affidavits for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court. Dr. Shaw has investigated white-collar crimes, violent crimes, narcotic crimes, cyber crimes, and for the past three years he has investigated domestic and international terrorism matters. His experience with terrorism investigations has enabled him to work throughout the United States and with investigators in the Middle East and Canada.
Dr. Shaw was also a FBI SWAT Team member for over 17 years both in the Miami Office and the Cincinnati Office. He was the Senior Assistant Team Leader for the Cincinnati Field Office upon his retirement. As a SWAT team member and team leader he wrote and planned several complex operational plans for high-risk missions, including drug operations, motorcycle gangs, and violent felons. Dr. Shaw participated in several major events as a SWAT team member. These included Central American – Caribbean Games, Summit of the Americas, the siege at Waco, Texas, several Super Bowls and All Star Classics, and protection details for the Attorney General of the United States and the Director of the FBI.
Dr. Shaw has been certified as a Tactical Air Officer/Rappel Master, WMD HAZMAT tactical operator, and was also an Assistant WMD Coordinator in the Cincinnati Office. He conducted several SWAT and Street Survival schools in South Florida and Ohio. Dr. Shaw helped establish the Greene County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team, by conducting a week-long training course. This enabled the Greene County Sheriff’s office to have there own operational team.
Dr. Shaw received his BA from Muskingum College in Education in 1977. While at Muskingum he participated in varsity track and was three-year letter winner. Upon His graduation, Dr. Shaw was sworn in as a United States Marine Corps officer in June 1977, and resigned his commission in March 1985.. Dr. Shaw attended the basic school and was then assigned to Fort Sill, Okalahoma, for artillery training. After graduation he was assigned to the Second Marine Division in Camp LeJune, North Carolina. Dr. Shaw was assigned as a forward observer and Fire Support Coordinator Liaison Officer while twice deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. He was transferred to the 6th District Marine Corps Recruiting district where he served as the Assistant Contact Team Leader. He also trained and inspected recruiters in the seven southeastern states.
Dr. Shaw left active duty for the Marine Corps to attend Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit School of Law. He remained in the Marine Corps reserves where he served as the Weapons Officer for Weapons Company 3rd Battalion 24th Marines in Toledo, Ohio. During his tenure at Weapons Company, it was honored as the outstanding reserve company of the year. Dr. Shaw was promoted to Captain and assigned as the Company Commander of Headquarters and Service Company 3rd Battalion 24th Marines, in Detroit, Michigan.
Dr. Shaw completed law school and was awarded a Juris Doctorate degree from Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit School of Law. Dr. Shaw was admitted to the West Virginia state bar in 1983. He served for a short period of time in the Hardin County Prosecutors Office as a Special Investigator assisting in the prosecution of cases.
Dr. Shaw is a member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI.
He is also an Adjunct Professor for Wright State University School of
Liberal Arts, where he developed a course on terrorism and is teaching
Criminal Justice courses.
Dr. Jonathan Appel, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Psychology & Criminal Justice
B.A. Kent State University, Ohio
M.ED. Kent State University, Ohio
Ph.D. University of Akron, Ohio
Dr. Jonathan Appel has worked in the field of Behavioral Health for over 20 years. He has worked with individuals, groups, families, and organizations as a counselor, psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, program director, and as a consultant.
Dr. Appel has worked with a diverse range of populations and problems, including persons diagnosed with developmental disabilities, severe mental illness, and substance use disorders. He has designed, managed, and worked in clinical programs that have included clinical services for the mentally ill, couple and family therapy interventions, substance abuse assessment and treatment, dual diagnosis, forensic treatment services, court-ordered anger management services, career counseling, and employee assistance program (EAP) services. He has also provided counseling and psychotherapy in a private practice setting.
Dr. Appel received his B.A. in Psychology from Kent State University, a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Kent State University, and a Doctorate in Counseling (specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy with a cognate in Organizational Psychology) from The University of Akron.
In addition, Dr. Appel has a Diplomate in Psychotherapy and is a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Career Counselor, an Approved Clinical Supervisor, an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, as well as a Certified Forensic Counselor from the National Association of Forensic Counselors. He has also received training as a Red Cross Mental Health Disaster Worker, and a Critical Incident Trauma Responder.
He is a professional member of the International Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors, the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and is an executive board member of the National Organization for Human Services – serving as its Education Chair.
Dr. Appel has presented nationally and internationally, and has taught at The University of Akron, Old Dominion University (Virginia), and as part of a faculty exchange program at The University of Kitakyushu in Kitakyushu, Japan. He has conducted research and/or applied work with organizations around stress, trauma and violence in the workplace, domestic violence and child abuse, employee burnout, and issues related to family-work balance.
He also co-authored a training curriculum in Domestic Violence for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is currently an editorial reviewer for the Family Relations Journal. His research interests include family violence, cultural competency, workplace violence, the mentally ill offender, and international issues in behavioral health.
Dr. Appel is currently licensed in Ohio as an Independent Marriage and Family Therapist, a Supervising Professional Clinical Counselor, and as an Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor.
Dr. Elizabeth Athaide-Victor,
Ph.D.
Professor of Criminal Justice and Psychology
B.A. Anna Maria College
M.A. Middle Tennessee State University
Ph.D. The University of Toledo
Dr. Victor began her career with a plan to consistently combine academics and applied service because she truly believes that one cannot teach without “doing.” As a result, she has been able to monitor both the extension of her field in academia, as well as its application in the real world. She feels this best enables her to educate her students, and prepare them for the challenges they will encounter in their careers. During all levels of her own education, Dr. Victor has worked in the field.
Born and raised in Southeastern Massachusetts, she started in the late 1970s working for the Department of Youth Services (DYS) for the States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. After leaving DYS, she worked in Boston for a suicide prevention center.
During college, both undergraduate and graduate, she also worked for a juvenile lock-up facility, a hunger-relief program, volunteered in programs specializing in mental retardation, autism and in substance abuse rehabilitation programs. As part of her pre-Doctoral program, Dr. Victor studied with Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg at Harvard University, doing research on moral reasoning and attribution of responsibility. She worked for several years at a Sleep Disorders Center, a Community Mental Health Center, and a Sexual Disorders Center, all located in Toledo.
Dr. Victor joined the faculty of Tiffin University in 1989. She has conducted abundant research on jury behavior, jury cognitive processing, child sexual abuse litigation, toxic tort litigation, juror competence, and juror bias. She was the first Dean of the School of Criminal Justice, and belongs to several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the Association for Women in Psychology, the Association of Hispanic Psychologists, and the American Society of Criminology. She is a Board Certified Forensic Examiner.
Professor Keith N. Haley
Professor of Criminal Justice
B.S. Wright State University
M.S. Michigan State University
Keith Haley is Professor of Criminal Justice, holding a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. Professor Haley has served as a U.S. Marine, municipal police officer, professor and administrator in several colleges and universities, state agency head of a peace officer standards and training commission, and as an organizational consultant and trainer.
Professor Haley has written and published many papers, articles, and book chapters, and is the author, co-author, and editor of 19 published books, one of which has been translated into Romanian. His research interests are varied, but currently focus on international justice systems, illegal immigration, video surveillance systems, and the firearms debate.