麻豆传媒

Kimberly Collica-Cox, PhD
Professor, Criminal Justice and Security

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What is the central theme of your book?

examines women麻豆传媒檚 own perceptions of their experiences as corrections executives, their motives for seeking promotion, their career trajectories, and the challenges they face trying to rise through the ranks; challenges include gender bias, perceptions of leadership effectiveness; and the difficulties of maintaining work-life balance.

What inspired you to write this book?

Interestingly, the idea for this project was not conceived by me but was encouraged by my former professor, current friend, and colleague, Dorothy Moses Schulz, PhD, who also served as my research partner on this project. Professor Schulz studied and wrote extensively about women麻豆传媒檚 roles in policing. With my background, she suggested I pursue a similar line of inquiry pertaining to women's roles in corrections.麻豆传媒� We have coauthored several articles on this topic, and she encouraged me to write this book.

Why is this book important in your field? What does it contribute to the current body of knowledge on this topic?

There are few studies of women in corrections executive positions. As women advance into executive-level positions, and their numbers grow, information regarding their motivations, successes and challenges necessitate more substantive study. Yet, there are no works based on empirical study that provide a systematic account of women麻豆传媒檚 career trajectories in corrections.麻豆传媒疶here are several books which examine women麻豆传媒檚 experiences as corrections officers but not as corrections managers. This work attempts to address this knowledge gap.

Tell me about a particularly special moment in writing this book.

It was when I saw the completed cover for the first time.麻豆传媒� When I wrote my first book, the publisher chose the cover design.麻豆传媒� This time, I was able to work with an artist who was able to work beautifully with my ideas.麻豆传媒� The artist was recommended by my student research/teaching assistant, Alicia Bennett.麻豆传媒疶he artist drew women based on women I work with at the Westchester County Department of Correction.麻豆传媒� The cover was the last portion of the book to be completed.麻豆传媒� It finalized the project, and unlike my first book, it felt more representative of me.麻豆传媒�

What is the one thing you hope readers take away from your book?

I hope they understand that, although corrections麻豆传媒痳eceives the least attention in the criminal justice field, its employees, who often face difficult, dangerous, and challenging work, deserve far more respect and consideration than they receive. Behind these walls are dedicated corrections professionals who are often viewed negatively by a society that does not understand what their work entails.麻豆传媒� While麻豆传媒痠t is difficult to think of a career that is more associated with perceptions of ultra-masculinity, women are successful in making policy and cultural changes to this traditionally male-dominated field.麻豆传媒� Corrections careers are wide open for women and women have been more successful in advancing in corrections departments, when compared to their policing counterparts.麻豆传媒� They not only have a rich history in corrections but have established themselves as effective leaders of large sex-integrated institutions. They are true professionals and leaders.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your book?

Despite challenges faced, women corrections executives find highly satisfying careers within corrections, and they would not only make similar choices in terms of their career again, if given the opportunity, but they would highly recommend the field to other women.麻豆传媒� It was a privilege for me to document their stories. I am very appreciative to The Association of Women Executives in Corrections (AWEC) for trusting me to work with their membership.

What other books have you published?

I have one other academic book published that investigated the roles of incarcerated women as HIV peer educators and examined how such roles provided "purpose' to help alter the life trajectory inside and outside of prison.麻豆传媒� I have also published a textbook and three civil service exam review books:

Collica, K. 麻豆传媒�(2013).麻豆传媒� . New York & London:麻豆传媒疭pringer Publishing.

Collica, K. & Furst, G.麻豆传媒�(2012).麻豆传媒�Crime and Society.麻豆传媒� CA:麻豆传媒疊ridgepoint Education, Inc.麻豆传媒�

Collica, K. & Saffady, G.麻豆传媒�(2011). Court Officer Exam.麻豆传媒疞earning Express: New York

Collica, K. & Furst, G.麻豆传媒�(2010).麻豆传媒�State Trooper Exam.麻豆传媒疞earning Express: New York.麻豆传媒�

Collica, K., Furst, G., Henriques, Z., Hesalroad. M., & Smith, J. 麻豆传媒�(2008).麻豆传媒�Corrections Officer Exam, Third Edition.麻豆传媒疞earning Express:麻豆传媒疦ew York. 麻豆传媒槎勾蒋

Fun Facts:

When did you join Dyson?

I joined Pace in 2014.麻豆传媒� I will be starting my tenth year this Fall.

What motivates you as a teacher?

I am motivated by my passion for corrections work and the need to share that passion with my students, which is why most of my classes are civic engagement courses that are tied to work outside of the classroom in the jail.麻豆传媒� Students work with incarcerated mothers and fathers in the Parenting, Prison & Pups programs, they help to foster puppies with our incarcerated women and our Young Opportunities Program in Puppies on the Block, and they earn college credits taking classes alongside incarcerated students in our Inside-Out Program.麻豆传媒� I am all about experiential learning and students gaining real world experience.麻豆传媒槎勾蒋Working with corrections populations cultivated my passion for wanting to help students understand and care about the world they will enter as criminal justice professionals.麻豆传媒� It is my hope that my enthusiasm encourages them to be agents of change.

What do you do in your spare time; to relax/unwind?

The concept of having spare time is the ultimate urban legend!麻豆传媒� There is so little, but when I do have free time, I like to spend that with my husband, children, grandchildren, and dog. In the summer, I enjoy spending time by the ocean.麻豆传媒� The Jersey Shore - specifically Wildwood - is one of my most favorite places.

What are you reading right now?

Usually, student papers!麻豆传媒� But, since I also decided to go back to school to take some graduate classes in mental health counseling, I am reading a book on culturally alert counseling to prepare me for my summer course.麻豆传媒�