Interactions - Spring 2022

Department of Sociology and Criminology

Interactions

Letter from the Chair

Greetings,

I hope that you and your loved ones are well.

As many of you know, one of our department’s strengths is our support of experiential learning. These professional development opportunities take many forms including: student presentations at research conferences, participation in local collegiate debate competitions, faculty-mentored research and internships. There is great interest from our students in obtaining internships. Our students have interned at various city, county, state and federal agencies, private law firms, social service agencies, and businesses (e.g., Zappos).

Our faculty often assist students in locating these opportunities. We recently lost a valued member of our department, Dr. William B. Waegel. Shortly after learning of Dr. Waegel’s passing, I received an email from a ’92 alumnus who wrote, “It is hard for me to envision being where I am today had he not assisted me in obtaining an internship with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office long ago. It didn’t seem like an inflection then … but it put me on a path that took me to Washington (and back) as a federal prosecutor.”

As you would expect, internship opportunities have been limited over the past two years. The email I received inspired me to encourage our alumni to offer internships, as a way to give back to both Villanova and our department. The skills our students gain during their 150 hours are invaluable. Internships provide students with an educational experience that goes beyond the classroom and bolsters their resumes. A job well done could also lead to a recommendation letter detailing character traits that may not be apparent in the classroom. Many students participate in an internship over the summer, so even if you are not local to Villanova, I urge you to consider providing this opportunity to our students. If you have any questions about how to do so, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

I wish you all the best.

Thomas Arvanites, PhD

Associate Professor and Chairperson

Department of Sociology and Criminology

Alumni and Student Spotlights

Erin O’Toole ’22 CLAS reflects on her job search as a Sociology major and discusses how the skills she learned in class are transferable to many industries. She encourages students to think outside the box and use the resources available to them at Villanova.

Jae Aristilde ’22 CLAS recently travelled to Silicon Valley to attend Villanova’s Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Institute’s “Villanova in the Valley” program. She discusses how as a Criminology major with a limited background in business she gained knowledge that will help her pursue future goals.

Faculty Highlights

Lance Hannon, PhD, gave a testimony on September 22, 2021 to the Philadelphia City Council expressing his support for two proposed bills designed to help eliminate unequal policing in Philadelphia. The expert testimony is based on his research examining Philadelphia’s vehicle and pedestrian stop data.

Kelly Welch, PhD, along with coauthors Peter S. Lehmann, PhD, Cecilia Chouhy, PhD, and Ted Chiricos, PhD, published an article titled “Cumulative Racial and Ethnic Disparities Along the School-to-Prison Pipeline” in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.

In Memoriam

Former Associate Professor William B. Waegel, PhD, died on December 14, 2021 after a long struggle with brain cancer. Bill earned a BA with a double major in Sociology and Economics, and a MA and a PhD, both in Sociology, at the University of Delaware. He joined Villanova in 1978 and retired in 2011.

Bill taught many courses throughout his career including Criminology, Juvenile Delinquency and Policing. Upon learning of Bill’s death, a former student wrote “He was such a kind man and wonderful teacher (and funny). I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be his student.” His most notable publications include a book titled Delinquency and Juvenile Control: A Sociological Perspective and two frequently cited publications "Case routinization in investigative police work" and "How police justify the use of lethal force."

He also served as department chair for 10 years and was the first director of the Criminology program (formerly Criminal Justice). He was a passionate and vocal supporter of Villanova’s program at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford (now SCI Phoenix) and served as director of the on-campus component from 2002-2010.

Outside the office Bill was a dedicated and expert saltwater fisherman who enjoyed teaching his sons about his favorite sport. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, two sons, and two grandchildren.

Alumni Resources

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