Profile for
Michael Tapia, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator for Criminal Justice
- Faculty
A Conversation with Dr. Michael Tapia
What is your favorite course to teach?
Several years ago, I developed a special topics course called Streetcrimes and the Underclass. It is my favorite to teach because it draws on my research specialty and allows me to integrate what I've learned into the class and cultivate student interest in topics related to it.
Why did you choose your discipline?
I always tell my students that the discipline chose me via a mix of serendipity, my interests, passion and opportunity. A related fun fact is that I did not take my first crime class until I was a doctoral student but I had lots of work and life experience to know that I should stick with it going into the professoriate.
Why did you choose your research area?
An early work experience unrelated to my college major (political science) changed my trajectory into the field of criminal justice, gangs and criminology.
Tell us about a project you are working on, academic or otherwise.
A handful of current & former East Texas A&M students, colleagues and I just completed a paper that maps drug-gang crimes in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico–a large and violent border city with El Paso, Texas. It is a fascinating place to study and I was happy to be able to include several students and former colleagues in the project. This is a first of a series of related papers that I hope will result from the project.
Educational Background
- Ph.D. Sociology, 2008, The Ohio State University
- M.A. Sociology, 2001, University of Texas at San Antonio
- B.A. Political Science, 1996, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas
Experience
- Assistant and Associate Professor, East Texas A&M University, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, 2021 – Current
- State of New Mexico Corrections Department, Adult Probation and Parole, 2020 – 2021
- Assistant and Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Dept., New Mexico State University, 2015 – 2020
- Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice Dept., Univ. of Texas at San Antonio, 2008 – 201
- Lecturer, Criminal Justice Dept., University of Texas at San Antonio, 2003 – 2007
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, Sociology Dept., The Ohio State University, 2001 – 2003
- Caseworker, Youth Gang Intervention, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Irving Spergel (PI), University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, 1997 – 2000