Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty
Dr. Heather Donovan
Heather Donovan, at Lindenwood since 2017, is a professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department. She received her BA and Pepperdine University, MS at University of New Haven, and JD and Washington University in St. Louis. Before joining Lindenwood, she worked as a criminal defense attorney in the St. Charles trial office of the Missouri Public Defender. Her passions in the criminology and criminal justice field are juvenile justice and mental health issues in the criminal justice system.
Dr. Rachael Gossett
Rachael Gossett earned her Doctor of Philosophy and master's degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology from The Ohio State University. She also holds a bachelor's degree from Ohio State in Psychology and Criminology. Rachael has a breadth of research interests including homicide, sexually oriented offenses, personality disorders, psychological/emotional abuse, inequities in the criminal justice system, anti-human trafficking initiatives, and offender populations. Her master’s thesis utilizes insights gleaned from interviews she conducted with incarcerated fathers at several Ohio prisons and her dissertation is concerned with individual perceptions of improper police behavior following a face-to-face contact utilizing a subset of the National Crime Victimization Survey. Rachael served as an adjunct instructor for The Ohio State University, Stetson University and Capital University while engaging in various projects for the private sector including a market research and security consulting firm. Most recently she worked in public service for the state of Ohio. Rachael has experience teaching Criminology, The Criminal Justice System, Social Class and Crime, Women, Crime, and The Criminal Justice System, Social Aspects of Deviance, Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Criminological Research, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, Drug Laws, Contemporary Issues in Criminology, Victimology, Race Crime and Punishment, Drugs and Society and a Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice. She is engaged in various research projects, scholarly activities, and reviews textbooks and academic journal article submissions.
Darren Marhanka
Darren Marhanka is a former police officer with nearly 18 years of law enforcement experience. He served in a variety of roles throughout his police career, but he is most proud of his work with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. Marhanka started as a patrol officer and eventually found himself working in the detective unit. He investigated almost any type of crime out there. Marhanka interacted with thousands of people throughout his time on the police department as well, finding it to be a very fulfilling career. Marhanka came to Lindenwood in 2002 as an adjunct faculty member. In 2004, he accepted a position with Lindenwood as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice. Marhanka loves doing things on the water: jet skiing, boating, scuba diving, fishing, you name it. He loves spending time with his wife, parents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, cousins, the "whole gang." He loves Jimmy Buffett music and goes to his concerts. Marhanka is a self-described "Parrothead Pirate." Life is about living, so go out and live it!
Dr. Billi Patzius
Dr. Billi Patzius received her B.S. in criminal justice, B.A. in psychology, and M.A. in criminology from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. She later received an M.A. in professional counseling from Lindenwood University and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University. She is a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and her courses include Criminology, Juvenile Justice, Victimology, Senior Seminar, and Criminal Minds. Dr. Patzius is the Faculty Athletics Representative for Student Life Sports and she serves as the Advisor for the Pi Beta Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma - the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. She is the Co-Advisor for the Criminal Justice Student Association and she oversees internship and volunteer opportunities for Criminology and Criminal Justice students. Her research interests include police misconduct and reform, juvenile justice and delinquency, and victimization among special populations. Dr. Patzius served as the Associate Dean for the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences within the School of Sciences from 2017-2021 and she was the Criminal Justice Department Chair from 2015-2017.
Dr. Pernell Witherspoon
Dr. Pernell Witherspoon was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and is a product of the St. Louis Public School System. Receiving a football scholarship, he attended Southeast Missouri State University and subsequently joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, where he patrolled and worked undercover narcotics. Dr. Witherspoon then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he continued to work as an undercover narcotic agent until his return home to St. Louis. Dr. Witherspoon completed his 16 year police career as a sergeant for the City of Hazelwood. During the end of his career, he returned to school where he completed a Master’s degree and PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Dr. Witherspoon joined Lindenwood University’s Criminal Justice Department in 2005. His teaching and research interests are racial issues within the criminal justice system, policing, juvenile justice, criminal justice ethics, and he has found a new interest in criminal justice ethnography. While Dr. Witherspoon continues to make teaching college students a priority, it does not keep him from his hobbies of praising God, boating, running, and enjoying the pleasures of life.