Faculty

Thomas F. Fitzgerald, M.A., M.S.

Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Science, Law Enforcement: Northeastern University (1970)
  • Bachelor of Arts, Sociology: American International College (1966)
  • Master of Arts, Education: American International College (1967)
  • Master of Science, Criminal Justice: University of New Haven (1974)
  • Diploma: F.B.I. National Academy (1978)

Teaching Experience

  • American International College
  • Western Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Academy

Research Interests

  • Policing Issues
  • Criminological Theory

Professional Experience

  • Former Chief of Police, Springfied, Mass., Police Department
  • Former United States Probation Officer


David C. Kuzmeski, M.S., J.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Arts, History: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1974)
  • Master of Science, Criminal Justice Studies: American International College (1978)
  • Juris Doctor: Western New England College (1987)

Teaching Experience

  • American International College
  • Western Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Academy

Research Interests

  • Law and Legal Procedures
  • Ethics
  • Women and the Law

Professional Experience

  • Former Director of the Western Massachusetts Criminal Justice Traning Council Academy
  • Member of the Massachusetts Bar and a practicing attorney
  • Former police officer


Jill McCarthy Payne, M.Ed., J.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Science: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1976)
  • Master of Education: Springfield College (1979)
  • Juris Doctor: Western New England College (1986)

Research Interests

  • Program Development in the Criminal Justice System
  • Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice
  • Law and Legal Issues

Professional Experience

  • Former Assistant District Attorney, Hampden County, Massachusetts
  • Member of the Massachusetts Bar


Anne E. Stuart, Ph.D.

Anne Stuart


Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies and Psychology Department

  • Bachelor of Science: University of Hartford (1995)
  • Master of Arts: State University of New York at Albany (2001)
  • Doctor of Philosophy: State University of New York at Albany (2002)

Teaching Experience:

  • First year at American International College (2002)
  • State University of New York at Albany
  • University of Hartford

Research Interests:

  • Social comparison as a determinant of individuals' identities, attitudes, and
    behaviors
  • How peer groups promote health-risk behaviors
  • Self image as it relates to academic performance


Michael Bock, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies and Psychology Department

  • Bachelor of Science: University of Bridgeport (1977)
  • Master of Science: Central Connecticut State University (1990)
  • Doctor of Philosophy: University of Connecticut (2001) (2002)

Teaching Experience:

  • First year at American International College (2002)
  • Central Connecticut State University
  • Western New England College
  • Manchester Community College

Other Professional Experience:

  • Consultant, Keane Inc.

Research Interests:

  • Cognitive Styles
  • Academic Interests of College Students
  • Implicit / Explicit Differences in Human Learning, Memory, and Cognition


Sandra Sego, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies and Psychology Department

  • Bachelor of Science: Eastern Kentucky University (1990)
  • Master of Science: University of Kentucky (1993)
  • Doctor of Philosophy: University of Kentucky (1997)

Teaching Experience:

  • First year at American International College (2001)
  • Murray State University (2000)
  • Southwest Texas State University (1998)

Research Interests:

  • Cognition and memory (specifically inhibitory processes)
  • Intentional forgetting
  • The effects of Aging on memory
  • Repressed memories
  • Social factors that affect memory

John J. DeFrancesco, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Psychology and Director of Clinical and Forensic Psychology

  • Bachelor of Arts: University of New Haven (1976)
  • Master of Science: Southern Connecticut State University (1979)
  • Doctor of Philosophy: University of Pittsburgh (1984)

Research Interests

  • Forensic Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology


Adjunct Faculty


Victor H. Ascollilo, Ph.D., J.D.

Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • Juris Doctor, Western New England Law School
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of South Carolina

Area of Specialization

  • Federal Criminal Law
  • White Collar Crime Prosecution

Professional Experience

  • Professor, Criminal Justice Department, Westfield State College
  • Member, Massachusetts Judicial Screening Committee
  • Attorney-at-Law
  • Former Police Commissioner, Westfield Massachusetts
  • Former President, Court and Community Resources, Inc.


George Blake, M.S.

Adjunct Professor, Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Science: Springfield College (1969)
  • Master of Science, Criminal Justice: American International College (1994)

Area of Specialization

  • Interpersosnal Violence

Professional Experience

  • Probation Officer, Northampton District Court, Hampshire County, Massachusetts
  • Assistance Chief Probation Officer, Northampton District Court, Hampshire County, Massachusetts


Joanne Burke, M.A., M.S.

Adjunct Professor,Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Arts, Westfield State College (1974)
  • Master of Arts, Psychology: Westfield State College (1991)
  • Master of Science, Criminal Justice: Westfield State College (2001)
  • Certificate in Corrections, Holyoke Community College (1996)

Area of Specialization

  • Substance Abuse Issues in Criminal Justice

Professional Experience

  • Substance Abuse Educator, Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center
  • Former Readjustment Counselor, Veterans' Administration


William J. Fitchet, M.S.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Science: Western New England College (1980)
  • Master of Science, Criminal Justice: American International College (1982)

Area of Specialization

  • Criminal Investigation

Professional Experience

  • Deputy Chief of Police, Springfield (MA) Police Department
  • Former Commanding Officer, Narcotic Bureau, Springfield Police Department
  • Former Squad Commander, Uniform Division, Springfield Police Department
  • Former Supervisor in Charge of Narcotics, Rape, Gambling and Liquor Violations, Springfield Police Department


Earl Harrington, M.S.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • B.S., Springfield College, 1960
  • Graduate Studies, Guidance and Psychological Services, Springfield College
  • Municipal Supervisors Training Program, University of Massachusetts (Amherst), 1978

Area of Specialization

  • Criminal Justice Planning Management

Professional Experience

  • Special Projects Coordinator, Springfield Employment Resource Center, Inc.
  • Former Director, Western Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Academy
  • Former Director, Springfield Regional Criminal Justice Development Agency
  • Former Supervisor of Training, Westfield Detention Center, MassachusettsDepartment of Youth Services


James E. Kelleher, M.A.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Westfield State College (1884)
  • Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology and Guidance, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1998)

Area of Specialization

  • Correctional Issues in Criminal Justice

Professional Experience

  • Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Pre-Release Center, Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Ludlow, Massachusetts
  • Massachusetts Certified Social Worker
  • Former Treatment and Classification Supervisor, Hampden County Sheriff's Department
  • Former Residential Supervisor and Counselor, Pre-Release Center and Day Reporting Center, Hampden County Sheriff's Department


Patricia Murphy, Ed.D.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Science: University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
  • Master of Education: American International College
  • Master of Science, Criminal Justice: American International College
  • Doctor of Education: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2000)

Area of Specialization

  • Counseling Skills for Criminal Justice Professionals

Professional Experience

  • Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center
  • Certified Jail Manager, American Jail Association
  • American Correctional Association Accreditation Auditor, Massachusetts Department of Corrections
  • Former Principal, Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps


Edward Weldon, M.Ed.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Associate in Science, Corrections: Holyoke Community College (1981)
  • Bachelor of Science, Law Enforcement: Western New England College (1983)
  • Master of Education: Cambridge College (1990)

Area of Specialization

  • Corrections

Professional Experience

  • Hampden County Shriff's Department, Massachusetts
  • American Correctional Association


Jennifer Zucco, M.S.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Criminal Justice Studies

  • Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Stonehill College (1995)
  • Master of Science, Counseling Psychology, Northeastern University (1997)

Area of Specialization

  • Corrections and Community-based Corrections

Professional Experience

  • Lead Counselor, Hampden County Sheriff's Department
  • Correctional Counselor, Substance Abuse Unit, Hampden County Sheriff's Department
  • Reintegration Counselor, Substance Abuse Unit, Haampden County Sheriff's Department




Go Back


American International College
1000 State Street
Springfield MA 01109
(800) 242-3142
inquiry@aic.edu