Our Faculty

Wayne E. Thomason
Head, Department of Criminal Justice
Assistant Professor Criminal Justice, 2000
Bachelor’s (B.S.), Northeast Missouri State University
Master’s (M.A.), Webster University
Specialist (Ed.S.), Pittsburg State University

JC-113, ext. 9684, e-mail: thomason-w@mssu.edu

Mr. Thomason has 36 years of law enforcement and training experience and has served both as a municipal Police Officer and Sheriff’s Deputy. His duties have included patrol, criminal investigation, Assistant to the Chief of Police, Director of Corrections and Court Security. He is currently a certified reserve officer in Missouri and remains active in the law enforcement profession.

Jack G. Spurlin
Vice President for Lifelong Learning

Professor Technology, 1975
Bachelor’s (B.S.), Northeast Missouri State University
Master’s (M.S.), Central Missouri State University
Specialist (Ed.S.), Pittsburg State University
Doctorate (Ed.D.), Oklahoma State University

H-108, ext. 9651, e-mail: spurlin-j@mssu.edu

Dr. Spurlin is currently the Vice President for Lifelong Learning. He worked several years as a police officer. During his tenure as an officer he worked as a patrol officer in traffic division and as a detective, and also did some undercover work. In 1989 he was promoted to Criminal Justice department head and was later promoted to Dean of the School of Technology.

C. Blake Wolf
Professor Criminal Justice, 1990
Bachelor’s (B.S.), Missouri Southern State University
Law Degree (J.D.), University of Arkansas
JC-101, ext. 9758, e-mail: wolf-b@mssu.edu

Dr. Wolf has more than 23 years experience in law enforcement and legal matters, during which he served seven years as a police officer and detective. In addition to his duties at Missouri Southern State University, Dr. Wolf is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Jasper County, Missouri.

Trina J. Scott
Professor Criminal Justice, 1994
Bachelor’s (B.A.), Indiana University

Law Degree (J.D.), Univ. of Missouri-Columbia

JC-104, ext. 3143, e-mail: scott-t@mssu.edu

Dr. Scott has extensive experience with local agencies, serving as Legal Advisor to the Jasper County Juvenile Court and as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Jasper County. Her teaching duties include the Criminal Justice Administration department and School of Business, in addition, she is the Pre-Law Advisor.

Matt Cowdin
Law Enforcement Academy Training Coordinator, 2008
Bachelor’s (B.S.), Missouri Southern State University

JC-111, ext. 9519, e-mail: cowdin-m@mssu.edu

Mr. Matt Cowdin is the Training Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Academy. He is a 13 year veteran of Law Enforcement, who served 11 years for the Joplin Police Department as a patrol officer, field training officer, and narcotics investigator. He achieved the rank of Corporal within the department. Cowdin has assisted in several large scale investigations with the Jasper County Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Richard E. Spencer
Assistant Professor Criminal Justice, 1995
Bachelor’s (B.S.), Missouri Southern State University
Master’s (M.S.), Central Missouri State University
JC-113, ext. 3171, e-mail: spencer-r@mssu.edu

Mr. Spencer has over 12 years experience as a police officer, Chief Deputy Juvenile Officer and child abuse investigator of the state of Missouri. He has also served on the board of Directors of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association. In conjunction with Missouri Southern's International Mission he has led more than 150 students on international study tours. These tours have examined the justice systems of Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, Africa, England, and Italy.

J. J. Spurlin, Jr.
Associate Professor Criminal Justice, 1998
Bachelor’s (B.S.), Missouri Southern State University
Master’s (M.S.), Pittsburg State University
Specialist (Ed.S.), Pittsburg State University

JC-105, ext. 9738, e-mail: spurlin-jj@mssu.edu

Mr. Spurlin served as a state child abuse investigator for eight years before returning to Missouri Southern as an Assistant Professor. Mr. Spurlin also has a diverse background in asset protection and has worked and consulted with St. John's hospital, Contract Freighters Inc., and Precious Moments. Mr. Spurlin was a part time instructor for four years and has been a full-time instructor since 1999.

Tim Wilson
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, 2006
Bachelor’s (B.S.), Missouri Southern State University
Master’s (M.S.), University of Central Missouri
JC-103, ext. 9572, e-mail: wilson-t@mssu.edu

Mr. Tim Wilson is a ten year veteran of law enforcement who has served for the Neosho Police Department as a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, and Accident Reconstructionist; the Jasper County Sheriff's Department as a Patrol Sergeant, Sniper Team Leader, Field Training Officer; and is currently a reserve Sergeant with the Joplin Police Department. Mr. Wilson has extensive training and experience in Traffic Accident Reconstruction as well as DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing who is also a member of the Joplin Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics Sniper team. Mr. Wilson is the coordinator for the Missouri Southern State University Certified Crime Scene Investigator course given to current law enforcement professionals.