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- 50th Anniversary
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION
For 50 years, 大象传媒鈥檚 School of Criminology has been at the forefront of global research and education, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in criminology and criminal justice, while shaping generations of leaders in the field.
We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone as we look back at our achievements and forward to the future.
Our People
Behind every milestone in our history are the people who make it possible. Visionary leaders, pioneering scholars, inspiring educators, and passionate alumni and students have been the driving force behind our legacy.
Our directors
Over our 50-year history, our School has been led by eight directors, each shaping its direction with distinct leadership styles.
EZZAT FATTAH
(1974-1978)
SIMON VERDUN-JONES
(1978-1982; 1984-1987; 1988-1990)
DUNCAN CHAPPEL
(1982-1984)
NEIL BOYD
(1987-1988; 1993-1996; 2013-2016)
MARGARET JACKSON
(1990-1993; 1996-1998)
ROBERT GORDON
(1998-2013)
DAVID MACALISTER
(2016-2022)
MARTIN BOUCHARD
Director since 2022
Our faculty
Past and present, every faculty has contributed to making the School of Criminology a leader in criminological education and research. They represent a strong community of scholars and educators whose collective commitment to excellence continues shaping our future.
Pioneers and Innovators
Patricia and Paul Brantingham
- Pioneers of environmental criminology and crime pattern theory, reshaping how cities and police prevent crime.
Neil Boyd
- Leading voice on drug policy, homicide research and the biology of violence.
John Lowman
- Critical scholar who shaped public debates on sexual work law and research ethics.
Robert Gordon
- Played a leading role in public policy analysis and in forging connections between academic research and practice. British Columbia鈥檚 go-to expert for analyses on crime and policing.
Ted Palys
- Recognized for work in research ethics, methodology and Indigenous justice.
Gail Anderson
- A pioneer in forensic entomology. Her work transcends borders.
Meet the scholars and educators driving our work forward on our faculty page.
Our alumni
Since its establishment, more than 13,000 people have graduated from 大象传媒 Criminology.
12,077
undergraduate program
130
PhD program
834
MA Program
363
MA ALS Program
With graduates located across our province, throughout Canada, and around the world, our alumni contributions are shaping the future of criminology and beyond. In 2025, we celebrate not only our past but also the generations of students and faculty who continue to drive change.
Alumni Testimonials
DARRYL PLECAS
BA Criminology, 1978 鈹侻A Criminology, 1981
Professor Emeritus
University of the Fraser Valley
鈥淚 still pinch myself on how incredibly fortunate I was to have studied criminology at 大象传媒. I had the most unbelievable professors, all starting with the amazing Ezzat Fattah who taught the first criminology class I ever took. He was the first in a long line of inspiring brilliant professors who instilled in me a great love for the discipline and an even greater love for research. Even better, by their example, I learned what it means to serve as a student-centred professor. As someone who ended up having a crazy fun career as a professor, I know that the catalyst in making it all happen in the first place, was my experience as an 大象传媒.鈥
HOWARD SAPERS
BA Criminology, 1980
Executive Director
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
"When I enrolled in the Crim program at 大象传媒, I thought I was on my way to law school. Starting in junior high school, I had planned on a law degree and a legal career. Then Criminology happened. I was learning about things I had never before thought, or cared, about. The content, and the enthusiasm with which it was taught made me forget about law school and fueled the career I have been fortunate to enjoy. For me, the lesson was, and continues to be, it鈥檚 great to have a plan, but it鈥檚 better to recognize and seize opportunities. As John Lennon once said, 鈥life is what happens when you're busy making other plans鈥.&辩耻辞迟;
BARBARA FLEURY
BA Criminology, 1981鈹侻A Criminology, 1989
Retired, RCMP Assistant Commissioner
Senior Security Associate,
Samuel Associates
鈥淚 think the small discussion groups we had, particularly in the M.A. program provided for opportunities to have open discussions about topics covering a broad range of issues in criminal justice. These different perspectives provided me with a learning experience that influenced my career by allowing me to approach challenges as a critical thinker, and gave me the confidence to believe in my abilities and to be passionate about my work."
KIM ROSSMO
PhD Criminology, 1996
Professor & Director of the Center for Geospatial
Intelligence and Investigation
School of Criminal Justice and Criminology,
Texas State University
鈥淭he doctoral program provided me with tremendous opportunities. From the international networking enabled by Paul and Patricia Brantingham, to the involvement in a wrongful conviction murder case with Neil Boyd, to the Japan comparative policing research project under the guidance of Curt Griffiths, to the insights into the demimonde world provided by John Lowman. It was truly a fascinating and unique educational experience!鈥
IRWIN M. COHEN
PhD Criminology, 2001
Associate Professor
Director, Centre for Public Safety and Criminal
Justice Research
University of the Fraser Valley
鈥淢y experiences at 大象传媒 set me on my career path and taught me so much about what it means to be a professor and a researcher. My time at 大象传媒 taught me the value of being academically curious and rigorous, how to be a better researcher, and provided me with the skills and knowledge to build a teaching and research career.鈥
ANITA GIL
BA Criminology, 2004
Port Security Director and Director, Permitting,
Compliance & Enforcement
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA)
鈥淢y 15-year career in law enforcement, followed by criminology studies at 大象传媒, prompted a profound re-evaluation of my personal beliefs and values. Although I entered law enforcement with the intention of promoting fairness and equity, I came to realize that I had become part of a system that often perpetuated and deepens injustice. My studies at 大象传媒 enabled me to shift direction and pursue a path focused on driving meaningful change within our social systems.鈥
ANDREA SPINDLER
BA CRIMINOLOGY, 2006鈹侻A CRIMINOLOGY, 2009
Deputy Police Complaint Commissioner
Office of the Police Complaint
鈥淢y time with the 大象传媒 School of Criminology drove home the importance of research and how those skills are transferrable and applicable post academia in how we identify innovative solutions to complex problems, utilize evidence-based decision making, and the crucial ability to think critically.鈥
HOLLY NGUYEN
BA Criminology (Hons), 2006鈹MA Criminology, 2009
Assistant Professor
Pennsylvania State University
"The most valuable lesson I learned at 大象传媒 was the importance of being present and actively supporting peers and faculty. Consistently showing up, engaging in workshops, and attending talks allowed me to seize opportunities, create new ones, and feel a true stake in the community and its success. This kind of engagement isn鈥檛 always recognized as essential during graduate school, but it profoundly shaped my experience and growth as a scholar. Fully immersing myself in the School鈥檚 academic life has continued to guide how I approach scholarship and community building today."
HOWARD CHOW
BA Criminology, 2015
Deputy Chief, Operations Division
Vancouver Police Department
鈥淚 still strongly feel the education I received went well beyond simply the degree itself. But rather it provided me with all the peripheral skills and attributes that have helped me become a better police officer and more importantly, a better human being. Skills like being a better communicator, stronger social skills - interacting with fellow students, sustaining and forming relationships, time management, and critical thinking, just to name a few.鈥
Explore our notable alumni page and meet some of the changemakers and leaders who continue to make waves in our community and beyond.