Dr. Mark Brown was the first-ever Ph.D. recipient of Tarleton State University when he graduated with his doctorate in criminal justice, Friday, July 26, 2024. The School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Public Administration welcomed its first Ph.D. cohort in the fall of 2019, and Dr. Brown is the first to graduate from the program. Dr. Brown says his wife of 27 years played a vital role in his success thanks to her unwavering support. Learn more about Dr. Brown and his experience in the doctoral program in the following interview.
COGS: Tell us a little about yourself.
MB: I spent the first part of my career in criminal investigations and later served as a tactical operator and medic for Special Response Team 3 then worked my way up to Commander of SRT 3. I retired from federal law enforcement in 2021 after working as a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the United States Department of Justice. I earned my master’s degree in criminal justice at Tarleton State University in 2019. I continued to work in various capacities throughout grad school, including interim police chief and full-time faculty member at Dallas Baptist University up until May 2023 when I started my dissertation.
COGS: Did you always foresee that you would attain a doctoral degree?
MB: I was working full-time in law enforcement while completing my master’s degree in criminal justice at Tarleton State University when I learned about the new doctoral program that was coming. The program’s student focus and practitioner approach really piqued my interest.
COGS: What will a doctoral degree from Tarleton do for your career?
MB: It will enable me to teach and provide consulting services to criminal justice agencies. My experience and education will allow me to assist agencies in evaluating policies, training, and community interactions to contribute to the ongoing reform and improvement of the criminal justice system.
COGS: What are your views on Tarleton’s Criminal Justice Ph.D. program?
MB: Tarleton’s Criminal Justice Ph.D. program is unique in that it is one of only two schools that offers a practitioner approach rather than a purely academic one, which is incredibly important in developing criminal justice policy. I was also fortunate to have a very supportive dissertation committee — they never pressured me but were always available to support and guide me through my dissertation. Dr. del Carmen, my dissertation chair, was especially instrumental in making sure I remained focused throughout the program and during my dissertation research.
COGS: What advice do you have for a student interested in pursuing a doctoral degree at Tarleton?
MB: My advice for students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree at Tarleton is to be disciplined in your time management. Balancing full-time work and academic efforts can be challenging, but with determination and support, it is achievable. Having a supportive family and a flexible dissertation committee was crucial for me, and I recommend seeking out those support systems. Also, take advantage of Tarleton State’s unique practitioner approach to the Ph.D. program, which provides practical and applicable knowledge in the field of criminal justice.
Learn more about Tarleton’s Ph.D. in Criminal Justice program here.