Criminal Justice Faculty

Criminal Justice B.S. | M.S. Administration of Justice | Faculty
Advisory Board | Seminars | Study Abroad | Criminal Justice Association

Wilmington University has recruited faculty who are professionals in their respective field in the criminal justice system. In addition to academic accreditation our faculty have extensive experience in the criminal justice system. The entire faculty is practicing professionals in the area in which they teach or have recently retired from careers in criminal justice. Class instruction is therefore as current as the events of that day. The faculty includes professionals from federal, state and local law enforcement, judges magistrate, common pleas and superior court, probation and parole supervisors, community corrections supervisors, juvenile corrections practitioners, attorneys with prosecutorial, administrative and defense experience, criminalists and forensic mental health experts.

These top professionals are regionally and nationally recognized practitioners who are involved in the day to day operations and decision making in the system which allows the students to receive a balance of the reality of the profession within the context of research and study that is required in the discipline. The goal is to provide the students with the level of instruction that presents theory and practice through the professional knowledge of a recruited group of experts. The following serve as guest lectures and faculty:

Full-Time Faculty

Joseph P. Aviola, Jr. is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and holds a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Wilmington University (Board of Trustees Leadership Award recipient). Prior to joining the faculty on a fulltime basis he served as a Delaware State Trooper for over 21 years. He retired as the Director of the Public Information Office and has other law enforcement experiences including patrol, criminal investigations, recruit training, and administration. He is a master certified State Police Academy Instructor, who has recognized expertise in the area of Police Ethics. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Supervision and Leadership. He is the Coordinator of the Graduate Criminal Justice program at Wilmington University.

Kirk R. Trate is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in the Administration of Justice. He further holds a Master of Science Degree in the Administration of Justice from Wilmington University. He is also a graduate of the 199th FBI National Academy class in Quantico, Virginia and the 124th Session of the Pennsylvania State University Justice and Safety Institute’s Police Executive Development Program (POLEX). He is a former Pennsylvania State Police Captain and Academy Training Division Director, retiring from that Department in October 1997. During his career in the Pennsylvania State Police, his assignments included: Staff Services Section Commander, Troop L, Eastern Regional Crime Laboratory Commander, and Patrol Supervisor, Troop L. Mr. Trate served as the Criminal Investigation Technical Advisor to the Regional Criminal justice Initiative in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Prior to his service in Bulgaria, he was the Executive Director of the Lebanon Crime Commission in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Chief of Police for the City of Reading Pennsylvania, Police Commissioner for Spring Garden Township, Pennsylvania and Deputy Chief of Police of Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania. He is the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Criminal Justice Program at Wilmington University.

Christian A. Trowbridge graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and was awarded a Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law He has ten years of experience as a prosecutor in the Office of the District Attorney of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Before joining the faculty on a fulltime basis he served as one of four Deputy District Attorneys in an office of thirty-two lawyers and forty support personnel. He directly supervised trial attorneys including the domestic violence unit. As a senior trial attorney he prosecuted major criminal felony cases. Most recently he was cross-designated to the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania as a Special Assistant United States Attorney as part of a federal initiative designed to combat gun violence. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania. He is the Coordinator of the Graduate Criminal Justice program at Wilmington University.

Thomas B. Cupples holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph's University, and a Doctor of Education from Argosy University of Sarasota. His area of research includes victimology with a concentration in the phenomenology of female rape victimization. Dr. Cupples is a twenty-five year veteran of the FBI with areas of expertise in crisis management, hostage negotiations, organized crime, white collar crime and criminal behavior. He continues to consult in the corporate community on issues of workplace violence and crisis matters, and has appeared on local and cable television as an expert on these issues. Dr. Cupples is a member of the Wilmington University Speakers Bureau. He has several years experience teaching full time on the college level and served as the Coordinator of Criminal Justice Programs at Wilmington University before being appointed as the Dean of Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Cupples currently serves as Assistant Vice President in the Office of the President.

Lorraine Sitler graduated maxima cum laude from LaSalle University with a bachelor degree in Criminal Justice. She received dual master degrees from Bryn Mawr College in Social Services and Law and Social Policy. She was a Public Information Officer for the Delaware Department of Justice acting as the spokesperson for the Attorney General and staff. She previously worked in the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s Office as the Director of Victim/Witness Services, managing staff and providing services to families of homicide victims. She has served on numerous committees related to crime victims including the Delaware Children’s Advocacy Center Planning Committee, the Attorney General’s Task Force on Child Victims, and the Domestic Violence Task Force. She has been the Chair of the Delaware Victims’ Rights Task Force, helping to author Delaware’s Victims’ Bill of Rights. Lori also chaired the Criminal Justice Council’s Sexual Assault Protocol Committee which developed Delaware’s rape evidence collection kit.

Melissa Zebley is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and holds a Master of Science in Administration of Justice from Wilmington University (Division of Behavioral Sciences Academic Excellence Award recipient). She is employed as a Delaware State Trooper and serves at the rank of Sergeant. Her experiences include work in investigations, patrol and instructor at the State Police Academy. She is a certified Academy Instructor who has an area of expertise in Police Ethics. She is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Supervision and Leadership. Ms. Zebley currently serves in the capacity of Criminal Justice Program Assistant with responsibilities primarily at the Georgetown site.

Part Time and Adjunct Faculty

Stacy L. Bonvetti has a bachelor degree from the University of Delaware and a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law. She is a member of the Bar in Delaware and New Jersey. Until recently, she was employed as Deputy Attorney General for the State of Delaware assigned to the Criminal Trial Division. She is currently a trial attorney in private practice specializing in Commercial Liability.

Thomas F. Carey earned his bachelor of science in Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. He has a master of science in Management from Wilmington University. He is currently a United States Probation Officer for the US District Court, District of Delaware. He is serving as the drug and alcohol treatment specialist. Before becoming a US Probation Officer he was a Probation and Parole Officer for the state of Delaware’s Department of Corrections where he also served as a correctional counselor.

Honorable William B Chandler III received his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and law degrees from the University of South Carolina School of Law and the Yale Law School. He was appointed Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery in 1997. He also served as Resident Judge of the Delaware Superior Court from 1985 to 1989. He had previously been an associate at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell and was Legal Counsel to former Governor Pete DuPont.

Elmer Criswell graduated from West Liberty State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He obtained a Master degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University. Elmer is a graduate of the Zonn Institute of Polygraph in Atlanta where he achieved the highest academic score in school history. He previously was the director and chief instructor of the Pennsylvania Institute of Polygraph Science as well as the Police Academy Polygraph School at Harrisburg Community College. He is currently the Director and Chief Instructor at Pennsylvania State Police/HACC Polygraph Institute at the Northeast Counterdrug Training Center.

Wayne J. Dainty received his Bachelor of Science from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with and emphasis on Education and Social Sciences. He holds a Masters and Doctorate from Widener University. He has more then twenty years of teaching experience. Dr. Dainty has been at Glen Mills Schools since 1976 where he has been a counselor, teacher, team leader, and director of personnel and training and staff recruiter. His area of expertise is in dealing with judicially referred juveniles in a residential school setting. He has extensive experience teaching on the college level on issues concerning offender counseling and rehabilitation.

Jim Elder received his bachelor of arts from University of Maryland, College Park and holds a Master of Science in Community Counseling from Wilmington University. He is a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor and is currently the Clinical Operations Coordinator at CiviGenics, Inc.

William J. Esposito has a BA in Political Science from the University of South Florida and a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Detroit. Mr. Esposito is a twenty seven year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After several years of experience investigating a variety of criminal cases he was promoted through the administrative ranks in both field operations and headquarters assignments. He retired at the rank of Deputy Director. He was awarded the FBI Medal of Valor and Bravery, received the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive and was named Distinguished Executive by a government wide panel. He recently retired from MBNA Bank America where he was Vice Chairman and served as a member of the Management Committee. He is currently a consultant for Conclave Consulting Group.

Michael L. Green earned his bachelor of science in occupational education from Wayland Baptist University. He earned a master of science in Psychology from Capella University and his master of science in Criminal Justice Administration from Chamenade University of Honolulu, Hawaii.

David Hall graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College. He received an MBA from Yale University, an MA from University of Pennsylvania and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Delaware.

Daria LaTorre received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph’s University and her Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law. She is currently the Chair of Criminal Justice at Alvernia College in Reading, PA. Previously, she was an Assistant District Attorney with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and spent most of her time in the Child Abuse Unit. She is a certified instructor under the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC). She is a member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and has been accepted for the National Presentations for the past three years. Her areas of expertise are the Rule of Evidence and the Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse Cases.

John W. Laufer earned a bachelor of science in Marketing Management and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from West Chester University. He is a Pennsylvania State Police Captain and the Academy Division Director. His previous assignments with the Pennsylvania State Police include: Station Commander at Media Station, Section Supervisor for the Bureau of Drug Law enforcement, Criminal Unit Supervisor at Embreeville Station and Patrol Unit Supervisor at Avondale Station.

Sharon Lynn attended West Chester University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Saint Joseph's University awarded her a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. She is a graduate of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She has received extensive training as Crisis Negotiator and Child Abuse Investigator. Ms. Lynn has more than twenty years of successful experience in Law Enforcement, including service as a Police Officer and Detective. She is currently the Township Manager for West Goshen Township, Chester County, PA.

Vivian Ferrara-Machado was born and raised in New York City, and received her BA and MA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Forensic Psychology. While in graduate school, she was an intern at New York University – Bellevue Hospital, Forensic Psychiatric Ward working as a member of a discharge team and administered psychological testing for high profiled criminal cases. After graduating in 1994, she moved to Maryland and worked extensively as a mental health professional within the court and prison system of Delaware. She performed mental health and substance abuse evaluations for drug court and worked with the female offender population as a psychotherapist doing group and individual therapy. Currently, she is a certified addictions counselor with the Cecil County Health Department, Alcohol and Drug Clinic.

Edward P. Monaghan, Jr. is a graduate of LaSalle University with a BA in Computer Sciences. He earned his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Monaghan joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1985 and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant as a supervisor of the Computer Crimes Unit. He is a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner and a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence.

Sean E. Moriarty graduated from Saint Anselm College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and has a Master of Science degree from Northeastern University Graduate School of Criminal Justice. He is a Delaware State Police Trooper and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant assigned as the Assistant Director of the Planning Section at Delaware State Police Headquarters in Dover. He is a certified instructor with the Delaware Council on Police Training and instructs Interview and Interrogation courses at the Delaware State Police Academy.

Laura M. O'Sullivan earned her bachelor degree in Criminal Justice at West Chester University and a Master of Science in Administration of Justice from Wilmington University. She has been a New Castle County (DE) Police Officer since 1993 and is currently assigned to the New Castle County Police Academy as the Drill Instructor Sergeant. Her experiences include assignments in both Patrol and the Detective Bureau with work in the specialized areas of Drug Enforcement and the Domestic Violence Unit. She is a certified SWAT Operator and SWAT Team Leader. She has attended numerous specialized schools and training sessions at the state and federal level. She received the Top Overall Female Physical Fitness Award for three consecutive years and is a chartered member of the Wilmington University Graduate Criminal Justice Honor Society.

Joseph Paesani has a bachelor degree from Kent State University in Criminal Justice. He also has two masters' degrees; one is in Counseling from the University of Delaware, and another in Business from Central Michigan University. Mr. Paesani is currently the Deputy Bureau Chief of Community Corrections for the State of Delaware. Prior to this he was the Director of Probation and Parole for six years. Other positions held within the Department of Corrections include Director of Pretrial and Pre-sentence, Supervisor for Intensive Parole and Probation Parole Officer.

Jeff Peck received a bachelor degree in Public Affairs from Rollins College and a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law. He served in the Police Department in Orlando, Florida for eight years as a police officer and spokesperson for the police department to the media. He currently teaches courses at Delaware Technical and Community College and is the Chair of Criminal Justice at their Dover campus.

Robert K. Ressler is a twenty year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and retired from the United States Army at the rank of Colonel. He served in the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division. While serving on the faculty of the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia Mr. Ressler pioneered the now famous protocol for Crime Scene Analysis and Criminal Profiling in the Behavioral Sciences Unit. He spearheaded the project that lead to the interviewing and profiling of 36 convicted serial killers throughout the United States that created the original data base on the subject. He has written five books on topics related to Serial Murder, Sexual Homicide and Crime Classification (available in the Criminal Justice Office) and is author of numerous journal articles, as well as, hundreds of appearances on video presentations and live television. He earned his bachelor degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Criminology from Michigan State University.

Lewis D. Schiliro attended Hofstra University where he received his bachelor degree in Economics. He received his Juris Doctorate from the Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law where he graduated Cum Laude. Mr. Schiliro is the former Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation New York Division where he supervised over 2,300 Special Agents. He also worked as Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division in the FBI, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Terrorism, Chief Inter-Agency Policy and Program Unit and the Organized Crime Coordinator. He was previously employed by MBNA Bank America where he was Senior Executive Vice President. In December 2005 Mr. Schiliro was appointed to the position of Director of Emergency Management for the Metropolitan Transportation Agency in New York City.

Mark W. Seifert has a BS in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science degree from Wilmington University. Lieutenant Colonel Seifert has been a Delaware State Police Trooper since 1987 and is currently the Deputy Superintendent. As such he is responsible for the day to day operations of the organization. Previously, he was the Administrative Officer in Charge of Technology where he oversaw all information technology functions, the 911 centers statewide, the Traffic Section and the State Bureau of Identification for the Delaware State Police. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Forum, the Southern Police Institute of the University of Louisville and numerous specialized certificate programs presented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He serves on a variety of advisory boards for the Police Executive Research Forum and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

John Treadwell earned his bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from LaSalle University and his Master of Science in Administration of Justice from Wilmington University. He is currently a New Castle County Police Officer assigned as to the Detective Division.

Sonia Trudeau received her bachelor degree from West Chester University in Criminal Justice and her Master of Science in Administration of Justice from Wilmington University. She is currently a New Castle County Police Officer currently serving at rank of patrol officer first class.

Gregory A. Warren has a bachelor and Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Wilmington University. He received his Doctorate from Temple University. He was a Delaware State Police Trooper, retiring at the rank of Captain. Dr. Warren was the commanding officer of the Delaware State Police Academy and supervised all training and education programs statewide for the state police, and is the former Director of Planning, Research and Analysis. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, as well as specialized programs sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Judith Nealy Watts graduated Magna Cum Laude from West Chester State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Dickinson School of Law. She served as Assistant District Attorney for Chester County, PA for eight years as a Senior Trial Attorney prosecuting all levels of felony cases. She is currently engaged in the private practice of law. She is a member of the Bar of Pennsylvania.