PhD in Criminal Justice

Carlos Alvarez

Carlos Alvarez earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M International University and is on his second year as a PhD student. Alvarez started a professional career with Texas Department of Public Safety as a State Trooper II. He has served several communities while stationed at Rio Grande City, Zapata, and currently serves Laredo, Texas. His research interests include Texas/Mexico border crime, policing, and criminal intelligence.

Belinda Latsky-Campbell

Belinda Latsky-Campbell is a native of South Africa. She studied and worked in very diverse and multi-cultural environments. Her first two degrees were B-Mus degrees (Musicology and Performing Arts) from the University of Stellenbosch in 1990 and 1994 respectively. She then earned a BA Psychology (Hons.) degree cum laude from the University of Port Elizabeth (2001), after which she obtained a Masters in Sociology degree cum laude from Nelson Mandela University (2005). During the Masters program she focused on Group Dynamics and did an exploratory study of how music can be used to enhance groups and teams.

Belinda is passionate about the wellbeing of young people and children in an age where they are vulnerable to so many dangers, and successful interventions, programs and policies are not always in place to protect and empower them. She would want to make a positive impact on how young people can be empowered to deal with issues of drug, gangs, bullying etc. Belinda has been active as a professional clarinetist over the past 30 years and is an avid rock climber.

Citlaly B. Palau

Citlaly B. Palau was born and raised in Mexico City. She earned her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice with concentration in Public Administration from Texas A&M International University. Citlaly worked for Child Protective Services for more than 6 years where she learned the importance of making a difference and helping those in need. As a PhD student her research interests are in Border Policy, Drug and Human Trafficking, Organized Crime and Border Issues. In 2021, Citlaly became the first ever elected student member of the Executive Board of the Texas Association of Criminal Justice Educators (TACJE). As the new Student Trustee of TACJE she is very excited to represent students all over Texas and beyond.

Mika Akikuni

Mika Akikuni is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA) from TAMIU and her bachelor's degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. She serves as Associate Director of marketing at TAMIU's Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services and co-chair of the University's multicultural committee. Her areas of research interest include Community Policing, Cybercrime, Social Capital, Social Networks and Crime.

Vanessa Almaraz

Originally from Laredo, Texas, Vanessa graduated high school from Stamford Jr. Sr. High School in Stamford, Texas in 1997. Since then, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Music and Master’s degree in Sociology from TAMIU in 2005 and 2014. Currently she is the Administrative Associate for TRiO Student Support Services at TAMIU, which academically assists First-Generation students. During her 15+ years at TAMIU, she has participated in the Executive Board of TAMIU Staff Senate, been the advisor to the TAMIU Glee Club, TAMIU Sociological Society, TAMIU STAR Club and has taught Sociology as an adjunct faculty member. Her research interests include; theology and criminology, serial killers, criminal activity preventions, and toxic fandoms.

Twitter:@LynnAlmaraz

Briana Underbakke

Briana Underbakke earned her Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO and her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Briana has lived in Laredo for 10 years and teaches criminal justice courses at Laredo College. Before coming to Laredo, she worked in various areas of the criminal justice system as a corrections officer, an adult probation officer, and a juvenile diversion officer. Briana's research interests focus on female criminality and intersectionality, with an emphasis on juveniles.

Cindy Dominguez-De Leon

Cindy Dominguez-De Leon was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. She earned her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M International University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Mary’s University. Currently she works for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas as a Continuous Improvement Administrator and was previously a Case Manager to a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Her areas of interest include Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking, and Serial Killers.

Michael Ramos

Michael Ramos earned a Bachelor of Science at TAMUCC and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice at Texas A&M International University. Mr Ramos is a PhD student from Corpus Christi, Texas. Mr Ramos is a detective with the Corpus Christi Police Department and has served the city of Corpus Christi since 2000. His research interests are gun violence/gun control, the study of psychopathy in murders and issues related to the prevention of child abuse.

Sandra Garza

Sandra V. Garza earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Criminal Justice and Psychology and a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M International University. She is a doctoral student born and raised in Laredo, Texas. She has been working with Customs and Border Protection since 2020. Her research interests include gang violence, law enforcement, feminist criminology, and child human trafficking.

Allica R. Campos

Allica R. Campos earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas. She earned Masters of Science in Criminology From The University of Texas in San Antonio, Texas. She is currently a first generation doctoral student here at Texas A&M International University. She currently works as a community service supervisor for juveniles in Duval County and a graduate assistant in the department of Social Science. Her research interests include intimate partner violence, criminological theory testing and advancement, mental health issues in criminal justice, and wrongful conviction.