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Dr. George Ackerman, PhD, JD, MBA

Education, teaching appointments, courses taught, practitioner experience, publications, and certifications — the full record behind the homepage.

For a PDF copy, transcripts, or letters of recommendation, email DrGAckerman77@gmail.com.

Education

Six degrees across criminal justice, law, and business

2012Ph.D., Criminal JusticeCapella University · 4.0 GPA, With Distinction · Alpha Phi Sigma · Dissertation in victimology (see Publications)
2006M.S., Criminal Justice & PsychologyNova Southeastern University · 4.0 GPA, Honors · Specialization in forensics and behavioral criminology
2003Juris DoctorNova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law School · Final paper: The USA Patriot Act: An Overview and Its Effect on Constitutional Rights · Internship: Office of the State Attorney
2003M.B.A.Nova Southeastern University, Huizenga Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship · 3.94 GPA, Honors
2001M.S., Sports AdministrationLynn University · Thesis on scholarships, coaches, and referees as influences on interpersonal violence in men's Division I basketball
1999B.A., Criminal JusticeFlorida Atlantic University · Minor in Business

Teaching appointments

Online and on campus since 2006

Associate through doctoral level. Quality Matters certified for online course design; Canvas, D2L, Moodle, Sakai, Blackboard, Jenzabar, Zoom, and Adobe Connect.

  • Aug 2025 – presentNorthern New Mexico CollegeLecturer of Criminal Justice · remote
  • Feb 2024 – Aug 2025University of Maryland Global CampusAdjunct Professor · remote · Blackboard, D2L
  • 2022 – 2024Kentucky State UniversityAssociate Professor of Criminal Justice · full-time · Blackboard, Canvas
  • 2009 – 2022Palm Beach State CollegeAdjunct Professor — business, criminal justice, law · hybrid · Canvas, Blackboard. Police Academy Instructor, Public Safety Training Center, 2010 – 2011 — academy-level instruction to law-enforcement recruits on criminal justice, policing procedures, officer safety, ethics, and professional responsibility
  • Aug 2006 – Aug 2025Online Teaching Professor · adjunctNineteen years of student-centered instruction in virtual learning environments — discussion facilitation, assessment, timely individualized feedback, and regular substantive interaction with students across multiple learning management systems

Courses taught

More than one hundred distinct courses

Criminal justice, justice administration and homeland security · law and paralegal studies · business and leadership · political science · psychology and sociology · ethics · sports administration · fire science. Associate, undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs.

Courses taughtFull list

Criminal Justice, Justice Administration & Homeland Security

Administration of Justice · Alternative Punishment · Collecting Audio/Visual Evidence · Communication Coordination · Community Control · Comparative Criminal Justice · Computers in Criminal Justice · Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice · Corrections · Criminology · Crime Scene · Criminal Evidence & Procedures · Criminal Investigation and Police Procedure · Criminal Justice Communications · Criminal Justice Foundations · Criminal Justice Management · Criminal Law · Criminal Procedure · Criminal Justice Ethics · Document Management · Criminalistics · Deviant Behavior · Drug Control · Fundamentals of Policing · Homeland Security · Interrogation Techniques · Introduction to Criminal Justice · Introduction to Security · Introduction to the Criminal Court System · Introduction to Homeland Security · Introduction to Law Enforcement · Introduction to Law & the Legal System · Introduction to Police · Issues in Criminal Justice · Juvenile Justice · Juvenile Delinquency · Legal Issues in Counter-Terrorism · Methods of Research · Modern Constitutional Theory · Organizational Factors in Justice · Organized Crime · Policing in America · Security Challenges · Security Investigation · Street Gangs · Substantive Criminal Law · Survey of Justice and Security · Technology and Crime · Terrorism · Victimology · Crime Prevention · Psychology of Criminal Behavior · Forensics · Revolution & Terrorism in the Modern World · American Constitution · Crime & Society · Social Justice & Ethics · White Collar Crime · Police Community Relations · Career Development for Criminal Justice Professionals · Fundamentals of Criminal Justice · Criminal Justice Administration

Homeland Security

Terrorism and Homeland Security Management · Introduction to Homeland Security · Legal Issues in Counter-Terrorism · Foundations of Public Safety in Homeland Security · Terrorism · Global Terrorism · International Terror · Public Policy and Homeland Security · Fundamentals of Emergency Readiness and Response Management

Law & Paralegal

Professional Responsibility · Negotiable Instruments · Evidence · Sales · Introduction to Paralegal · Corporations · Family Law · Wills and Trusts · Constitutional Law · Constitutional Law II (First Amendment) · Remedies · Civil Procedure · Criminal Law · Criminal Procedure · Contracts · Torts · Property · Florida Constitutional Law · Florida Sales · Florida Civil Procedure · Florida Evidence · Florida Criminal Procedure · Florida Wills · Florida Trusts · Florida Corporations · Florida Partnerships · Florida Family Law · Florida Professional Responsibility · Legal Issues in Human Resource Management · Legal Environment of Business · Business Law · Politics and the Law

Political Science

Government · Public Administration and Policy-Making · Political Science · American Government · American Constitution

Business

Business Ethics · Business Intelligence · Business Law · Decision Making Process · Human Resource Management · Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior · Leadership · Leadership and Administration · Legal Issues in Business Management · Management · Management Information Systems · Organizational Behavior · Principles of Marketing · Workplace Relations

Psychology & Sociology

Sociology · Forensic Psychology · Abnormal Psychology · General Psychology · Criminology · Behavioral Criminology · Victimology

Ethics

Medical and Legal Ethics · Ethics · Ethics in Criminal Justice · Ethics in Business · Ethical Decision Making

Sports Administration

Sports Administration · Sports Ethics · Sports Law · Sports Management · Sports in Society

Fire Science

Legal Aspects of the Fire Service

Practitioner experience

Prosecutor's office, private practice, patrol

  • 2006 – 2026Police Officer, Reserve — Lantana Police DepartmentSworn reserve officer; FDLE certified. Patrol and road duty, marine patrol, detective unit, victim assistance; joint juvenile-warrant operations with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and ride-alongs with the Broward Sheriff's Office.
  • 2006 – 2026Law Office of George M. AckermanBusiness and criminal law — federal and state practice.
  • 2006 – 2021United States Coast Guard AuxiliaryHomeland security.
  • 2005Miami-Dade Police AcademyPolice officer certification — squad leader, honors. DUI investigation and CPR certified.
  • 2003 – 2004Broad and Cassel · corporate business & real estate lawLegal research in white-collar criminal, healthcare, admiralty, and civil matters; corporate transactions and business clients.
  • 2001 – 2003Office of the State Attorney, 17th Judicial CircuitFelony division research, then certified legal intern in the misdemeanor division — trials, discovery, arraignments, depositions, and motions. Judicial intern to the Hon. Joel Lazarus, 2002.

Earlier service: volunteer/reserve firefighter (2002); law-school and bar-exam tutor, Degrees for You, LLC (2004); corporate trainer and motivational speaker, Fitness for the Professional, LLC (2005). Member, Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association.

Scholarship

Publications & research

Books

  • 2027
    Ackerman, G. Foundations of American Policing: Theory and Justice from Patrol to Policy.Paperback ISBN 979-8-9949198-6-6 (coming 2027) · eBook — pre-order
  • 2027
    Ackerman, G. Criminal Law Perspectives: A System of Policy, Principles and Reform.Paperback ISBN 979-8-9949198-3-5 (coming 2027) · eBook — pre-order
  • 2026
    Ackerman, G. M. The Pillars of Criminal Justice: Practices, Policies, and Procedures.ISBN 979-8-9949198-0-4 · Amazon
  • 2026
    Ackerman, G. M. Foundations of Criminology: Crime, Theory, and Justice.Amazon
  • 2026
    Ackerman, G. M. Practice of Criminal Procedure: Rights, Redress, and Obligations.Amazon
  • 2026
    Ackerman, G. M. Juvenile Justice Policy: System, Process and Reform.Amazon
  • 2026
    Ackerman, G. M. The System of Corrections: Innovation, Penal Practice, and Systemic Reform.Amazon
  • 2026
    Ackerman, G. Parkinson's Disease & the Law: Rights, Policies and Protections.
  • 2025
    Ackerman, G. Policing and Parkinson's Disease: Encounters, Training, and the Need for Awareness.International Impact Book Awards — Education Policy & Reform
  • 2024
    Ackerman, G. A Son's Journey from Parkinson's Disease Caregiver to Advocate.2026 COVR Visionary Awards, Bronze — Memoirs & Personal Journey
  • 2010
    Ackerman, G. Courts and the Law: Current Perspectives — Readings from InfoTrac.Wadsworth-Cengage · ISBN 978-0-495-91233-0
  • 2009
    Ackerman, G. Victimology: Current Perspectives — Readings from InfoTrac.Wadsworth-Cengage · ISBN 978-0-495-59717-9

Articles, theses & course materials

  • 2013
    African American family members of homicide victims: Grief and trauma.Journal of Criminal Justice, AAU
  • 2004
    Law School Tutoring Student Charting Workbooks — Evidence, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Property, Torts.Degrees for You, LLC
  • 2003
    The USA Patriot Act: An Overview and Its Effect on Constitutional Rights.J.D. final paper, Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law School
  • 2001
    Master's thesis — scholarships, coaches, and referees as influences on interpersonal violence in men's Division I college basketball programs.M.S., Sports Administration

Manuscript & textbook reviewer

Cengage LearningOxford University PressPearsonSAGE PublicationsJones & Bartlett Learning

Reviewed titles in criminal procedure, business and employment law, homeland security policy, police management, criminal-justice information systems, and introductory criminology and criminal justice (2013–2014); Pearson MyCJLab reviewer and criminal-justice focus-group participant.

Certifications

  • Quality Matters (QM) — online course designCurrent
  • Police Officer Certification, Miami-Dade Police Academy2005 · Squad leader, honors
  • FDLE — certified law-enforcement officer2006 – 2026
  • DUI Investigation Certification · CPRCertified
  • Private Investigator (Class CC)2006
  • Department of Homeland Security certificate2003 – 2008
  • Firefighter certification (volunteer / reserve)2002

Admissions & associations

  • BarAdmitted 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Middle & Southern Districts of FLAdmitted 2007
  • Alpha Phi Sigma — criminal justice honor societyCapella University
  • Palm Beach County Police Benevolent AssociationMember
  • United States Coast Guard Auxiliary2006 – 2021

Hiring

Available for online teaching appointments — adjunct or full-time

Departments and search committees: email DrGAckerman77@gmail.com for a current PDF curriculum vitae, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.