Mansfield University Home PageCJ Majors Tour Tioga County Prison
Tweny-two criminal justice majors toured the Tioga County Prison, located in Wellsboro, PA, on Wednesday, October 15th as the guest of Deputy Warden Terry C. Browning, whose daughter is herself a criminal justice major at Mansfield university.
The students received almost a three hour tour, visiting almost every corner of the county prison. Students saw the Reception Area, Gym, LIbrary, Visiting Area, and Work-Study Area, to name just a few.
This is the second correctional facility criminal justice students have toured this Fall. In Spetember students toured the medium security prison at the Federal Correctional Complex at Allenwood, operated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, whose warden is himself a Mansfield University graduate.
The 2009-2010 Prison Tour Series will conclude with an April 2010 tour of the State Correctional Institution at Rockview, located just minutes outside of State College. There, criminal justice majors will have an opportunity to visit with, and talk to, approximately 20 life-sentenced inmates incarderated for either first of second degree murder.
Dean Van Bibber Returns to Mansfield University to Speak to CJ Majors
Dean Van Bibber, a 1976 graduate of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, returned to speak to four criminal justice classes on Thursday, October 8th, 2009. Professor Van Bibber is a professor of criminal justice and coordinator of the Homeland Security Program at Pierpont Community Technical College, located on the grounds of Fairmont State University, where Van Bibber also teaches.
Professor Van Bibber is a former chief of police for West Hempfield Township Police Department, and was the youngest chief of police in Lancaster (PA) County's history. Van Bibber has a graduate degree from Villanova University, and has taken post graduate work at West Virginia University and has published in professional and academic journals, as well as writing for a major textbook in community-oriented policing. Professor Van Bibber’s actions as a police officer made him a recipient for the Silver Star for Bravery at the National Police Hall of Fame, located in Miami, Florida.
Said one junior criminal justice major of Professor Van Bibber's presentation (she went to two presentations) - Today's presentation was by far the most entertaining and informational presentation I have seen thus far at Mansfield. I liked how he gave tips on how to dress, speak, and act for an interview. I also appreciated how he spoke on a level we students could relate to, rather than speaking over our heads in a mundane tone. His fun, upbeat, and entertaining personality made it easy to listen and take in what he was saying. This was a speech where we are able to take information away to reference later in life. Thanks again for having him come speak to us today! I hope that he makes a visit back very soon!!!!
The Father of Modern Blood Stain Interpretation Speaks at Mansfield
Dr. Herb MacDonnell, long considered The Father of Modern Blood Stain Interpretation, was honored with the designation of a 2009 Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Criminal Justice as he delivered two lectures to two packed classrooms filled with forensic and criminal justice students on Tuesday, September 29th.
Dr. MacDonnell spoke about his 60 years of investigating cases, and of a recent case involving U. S. Army Lt. Michael Behenna who was convicted of murdering an unarmed Iraqi. There, Dr. MacDonnell was supposed to be a witness for the prosecution, and instead, discovered evidence that showed Lt. Behenna acted in self-defense. Rather than share the newly found evidence with the defense, the Army sent MacDonnell home.
Now, Lt. Behenna’s lawyers are currently appealing the verdict based on Dr. MacDonnell’s evidence. Just four days after Dr. MacDonnell spoke at Mansfield, Dr. MacDonnell was the headline story on the Saturday, October 3, 2009 issue of the Corning Star-Gazette in an article entitled Long Before CSI was fashionable, Herb MacDonnell was on the case. Just another example of Mansfield’s Criminal Justice Department taking advantage of world class speakers.
Criminal Justice Majors tour F.C.I. Allenwood
Mansfield University criminal justice majors received a rare glimpse of the Federal Correctional Institution at Allenwood (Medium Security) on Friday, Sept. 18th. The tour alone lasted over three hours, and students were able to tour the following areas: 
- the prison’s Reception & Release Area
- UNICOR Manufacturing Plant
- kitchen
- inmate dining hall
- Medical Department
- Recreation Department & Yard
- Library & Schoolroom
- cellblock
- Commissary
- Maintenance Department
- HVAC classroom
The tour concluded with a 30 minute overview of the Federal Correctional Complex at Allenwood, which was given by Mr. Scott Holtzapple, the Employee Services Manager (personnel director) for the entire federal Correctional Complex at Allenwood, (encompassing three federal prisons with approximately 1,000 employees), and a 1987 Mansfield criminal justice graduate. The tour culminated with a discussion in the Warden’s office with Warden David J. Ebbert, a 1982 Mansfield University criminal justice graduate.
According to Dr. Scott Thornsley, the department chair of criminal justice at Mansfield, “The Allenwood tour was the best tour he has ever received in the 15 years he has been arranging tours for university students, and even surpassed tours he received and gave while employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.”
Touring students noted that every employee who spoke to the tour group enjoyed working at Allenwood, and loved the work they were doing. Warden Ebbert even remembered that Mansfield criminal justice major Terrell Lehman interned at the Federal Correctional Complex at Allenwood during the 2009 summer, and enjoyed the experience. (See Terrill Lehman’s internship spotlighted under the 2009 Internship area.)
Lambda Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Honors Dr. Robarge
In April the Lambda Alpha Epsilon (LAE) National Professional Fraternity for Criminal Justice honored Dr. Mark Robarge, chair of the CJ Department and associate professor of criminal justice at Mansfield University on his anticipated retirement in August 2009.
Outgoing LAE President Brian Pinkney honored Dr. Robarge with a plaque and luncheon at Marks Brothers Restaurant in Mansfield.
Brian Pinkney thanks Dr. Robarge for his many years of service to the Criminal Justice Department.
The Criminal Justice Department staff:
- Dr. Ted Ryan
- Dr. Scott Thornsley
- Dr. Mark Robarge
- Gayle Kreitzer
April 21 2009
Pardons Board Secretary John Heaton Speaks to MU CJ Students
On Tuesday, April 21st the Honorable John Heaton, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, spoke to three Mansfield University criminal justice classes on clemency and Pennsylvania’s pardoning procedures. This is the third time Secretary Heaton has come to speak to Mansfield students.
Secretary Heaton was named a 2009 Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Criminal Justice for his interest in providing MU students with interesting and seldom heard information about Pennsylvania’s clemency and pardoning process.
Secretary Heaton was a former chief counsel to the Pennsylvania State Police (1978-1982), and assistant attorney general for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (1973-1978).
April 17 2009
Students to Tour Rockview State Prison
On April 17th 17 Mansfield University criminal justice students toured the State Correctional Institution at Rockview, and afterwards had the opportunity to speak to 12 inmates serving a life-without-possibility of parole sentence. Several of the inmates had been incarcerated since they were 14 and 15 years of age, with one 54 year old inmate having already served 40 years in prison.
April 15 2009
Forensic Consultant William Fischer Speaks to CJ Club
On April 15th Forensic Consultant William Fischer spoke to interested students about his career in forensic consulting. Since 1982 Mr. Fischer has given testimony in Local, Superior, Supreme and U.S. District Courts on accident reconstruction, bloodstain interpretation, and police procedure at both civil and criminal trials on behalf of plaintiffs and the prosecution, reconstructing over 1,200 traffic accidents and more than 40 homicides.
Mr. Fischer is a former New York State Trooper who received the “Superintendent’s Commendation Award” in connection with felony arrests made during the course of an armed robbery, retiring from service in 1980 due to an on-duty injury during the course of a felony arrest. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton with a B.S. degree.
Mr. Fischer’s presentation was sponsored by the Criminal Justice Club.
March 12 2009
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On Thursday, March 12th, 2009 Deputy Warden Terry C. Browning of the Tioga County Prison spoke to Dr. Thornsley’s Introduction to Criminal Justice class about the challenges that a county prison faces and some of the more unusual incidents that he has personally witnessed over his 20 years of employment there. Students will be taking a tour of the Tioga County Prison later this Spring. |
February 17 2009
Christian Spangenberg (M.U., 1981) Speaks at Mansfield
 CJA Student Christian Spangenberg, Professor Ted Ryan, and Special Agent Christian Spangenberg. Dr. Ryan had both Special Agent Christian Spangenberg and son Christian in his classes at Mansfield. Son Christian is scheduled to receive his B.S. degree in may 2009. |
Christian Spangenberg, former MU CJA major and now one of just only 235 Special Agents for the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency, spoke on “Environmental Crimes” on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 in Alumni Hall to a packed audience.
Special Agent Spangenberg is assigned to EPA’s Homeland Security Division’s, National Counterterrorism Evidence Response Team (NCERT). The team is responsible for the collection of forensic evidence in a hazardous materials and bio-terrorism environments. When required, the team has been deployed and used in counterterrorism, environmental, and force protection missions. NCERT has participated in major national security events, to include 9-11 rescue and recovery operations, Katrina force protection missions and multiple political events, including the Democratic National Convention and Republic National Convention.
Prior to assuming his current position, Special Agent Spangenberg was an officer in the United States Marine Corps, Military Police, and held the following positions: Watch Commander, Patrol Supervisor, Company Commander and Provost Marshal.
Special Agent Spangenberg has specialized training in environmental crimes, counterterrorism and bio-terrorism related training, weapons of mass destruction training, hostage negotiations, sniper training, and other law enforcement specialized training.
Special Agent Spangenberg obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Mansfield State College in 1981, Mansfield, Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Forensic Science from National University, San Diego, California. He resides in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with his wife Lisa and two sons, Christian and Andrew.
Special Agent Spangenberg was named one of 2009’s Distinguished Visiting Lecturers in Criminal Justice.
December 13 2008
 25 students received their B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration and 7 students received their A.S. degree in CJA on December 13th. |
 “Samantha Harris Smiles Because She Knows She is Almost Through!” Samantha Harris pauses to take a brief moment off before heading into graduation. |
November 11 2008
CJ Club Hosts Alumnus Banking Lecture
 Former CJ major Guy Wentsler poses with his son Dan Wentsler, a senior CJ major also attending at Mansfield, and Professor Ted Ryan, who had both Guy and Dan in his classes. |
Mansfield University Alumnus Guy Wentsler, an officer with First National Bank of Fredericksburg, PA, will return to campus on Tuesday, November 11th to give a talk about security issues facing the banking industry.
The talk will be held in Alumni Hall, Room #307 at 6:30 p.m. Wentsler will be introduced by his son Daniel, a criminal justice major at Mansfield who is scheduled to graduate this spring.
Guy Wentsler’s presentation will cover a wide variety of topics including money laundering, bank fraud and identity theft.
A 1980 Mansfield University graduate, Wentsler has been an officer with First National Bank for 11 years.
The presentation is free and open to the public.
October 24-25 2008
CJ Club Tours FBI Training Academy at Quantico, Virginia
Sixteen members of the Criminal Justice Club got a rare opportunity to tour the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia on Saturday, October 25th. The tour was orchestrated and provided by 
Elmira, New York based FBI Special Agent Mark Thompson, who is currently serving a six month stint as a Field Counselor for new special agent trainees.
On Friday, October 24th Mansfield students traveled by van to Rockville, Maryland to check-in at the Rockville Hilton, and then proceeded to travel to Washington, D.C. for a short excursion, which included a trip to the Crime & Punishment Museum.
October 6, 2008
The Department of Criminal Justice Administration has formally created a “Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Criminal Justice Lecture Series.” Click here to learn more.
September 29 2008
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Dr. Ramsland has most recently authored Beating the Devil’s Game: A History of Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation (2008), Inside the Minds of Healthcare Serial Killers: Why They Kill (2007), The CSI Effect (2006), Inside the Minds of Serial Killers (2006), Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers: Why They Kill (2005), The Human Predator (2005), The Science of Cold Case Files (2004), The Criminal Mind: A Writer’s Guide to Forensic Psychology (2002) and The Forensic Science of CSI (2001). Her latest book, and topic of the Monday evening free seminar in MU’s Planetarium, True Stories of CSI: The Real Crimes Behind the Best Episodes of the Popular TV Show, is due to be released September 2, 2008. Dr. Ramsland just recently had a TV pilot accepted by CBS TV. The working title of the TV series is "The CRU" (Catastrophic Response Unit) pronounced as "The Crew." The series is being developed with former CSI series executive producer Josh Berman and bestselling writer James Patterson.
From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dr. Ramsland will give a talk on Careers in Forensic Psychology in Alumni #307.
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Dr. Katherine Ramsland, one of the nation's most prolific writers in the fields of serial and mass murder, forensic psychology, crime scene investigation, and forensic science, will be the 2008 North Hall Library Visiting Scholar.
July 2008
Stayments in Afghanistan, Thomas Schuster to Assume Classes.
Bruce Stayments, recently retired chief of the West Elmira, NY Police Department and longtime adjunct criminal justice instructor at Mansfield University, is now in Afghanistan, providing instruction and guidance to local Afghan police departments. Stayments is currently deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan as a Civilian Police Advisor, monitoring Afghan National Police Officers.
Thomas Schuster, the chief probation officer for Bradford County’s Probation/Parole Department, will assume both of Stayment’s teaching assignments for the Fall 2008 semester as well as for the Spring 2009 semester. Schuster, a 1980 graduate of Mansfield University with a B.A. in criminal justice, also has a M.S. in criminal justice from Shippensburg University. Schuster, a police officer from 1981 to 1982 in Sayre, PA, rose steadily in the probation and parole ranks in Bradford County, starting as a juvenile probation officer, then becoming its chief juvenile probation officer from 1981 to 1985, then moving to the assistant chief probation officer in 1985, and then becoming the chief probation officer for Bradford County’s Probation/Parole Department in 1985 when the juvenile and adult probation offices were consolidated.
Schuster has served as adjunct faculty at Elmira College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Penn State’s Wilkes-Barre Campus, in addition to Mansfield University.
May 2008
The department recently concluded a 5 year review of its program. The report was chaired by Dr. Scott Thornsley with Dr. Gregg Brown of Nipissing University's Department of Criminal Justice serving as the report's consultant and external reviewer. The report is available for review by students.
April 2008
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Students of Dr. Thornsley got to tour the State Correctional Institution at Rockview, located minutes outside of State College. After the tour, students were allowed to speak for two hours to 20 inmates who are serving life-sentences. Before the tour, students had time to have lunch in State College and tour Penn State. |
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Students of Dr. Thornsley got to tour the State Correctional Institution at Muncy (the state's maximum security prison for female inmates) located outside of Williamsport. |
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Students of Dr. Thornsley were given the opportunity to hear the Honorable John Heaton, secretary of the State Board of Pardons, discuss Pennsylvania's clemency and pardons process. |
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Students in Dr. Thornsley's Serial Murder class got the chance to attend a day long seminar (for free) at Elmira College. The speaker, FBI Special Supervisory Agent Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole, discussed school shootings and mass murder. Dr. O'Toole is one of the FBI's most recognizable profilers and an expert in serial and mass murder. She interviewed Gary Leon Ridgeway, the Green River Killer, prior to his sentencing. |
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Anthony Michael Green, an inmate wrongfully convicted of rape who spent 12 years in prison, spoke to 130 MU students. He was exonerated by DNA evidence. The presentation was subsidized by The Innocence Project in New York City. Mr Green's appearance was orchestrated by MU Criminal Justice major and Honors student Justine Taylor. |
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Members of the Mansfield Criminal Justice Club and guest speaker Anthony Michael Green. |
