50 Years and Going Strong

School of Criminal Justice Receives Four Major Gifts in its Anniversary Year

Students walk by Draper Hall on the Downtown Campus, the home of the School of Criminal Justice. (Photo by Mark McCarty)

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 8, 2018) — William Alex Pridemore, dean of the School of Criminal Justice (SCJ), has made a $100,000 planned gift to increase the SJC’s Dean’s Excellence Fund. The gift will create an endowment that will allow future SCJ deans to support initiatives and opportunities that enrich the intellectual life of the school.

Pridemore earned his Ph.D. from the UAlbany School of Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Criminal Justice and B.A.s in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Indiana University. He was a post-doctoral Research Fellow at Harvard University and is a distinguished professor at SCJ.

Dean William Alex Pridemore. (Photo by Stephanie Snyder)

Peers in the field of criminology and criminal justice recently ranked the UAlbany School of Criminal Justice second in the nation among 41 Ph.D. programs. Dean Pridemore’s gift is the fourth gift of $100,000 or more SCJ has received this year in conjunction with the school’s 50th anniversary. The others are:

• Former Dean and current Distinguished Professor Alan Lizotte, together with his wife, Lisa Jackson, whose gift also will support the Dean’s Excellence Fund.
• Peter Stevens ’83, who established The Peter Stevens ’83 Fellowship in the School of Criminal Justice to help the SCJ recruit and support outstanding graduate students.
• Larry J. Siegel MA ’70, Ph.D. ’74, along with the The Darald and Julie Libby Foundation, established The Larry J. Siegel MA ’70, Ph.D. ’74 Fellowship.

Pridemore called his five years as a Ph.D. student transformational. “To be able to return to and lead the School of Criminal Justice as dean is a wonderful opportunity and responsibility,” he said. “As dean during our 50th anniversary, I felt the need to do something meaningful for the future success of the school. I was inspired by other recent gifts to the school and, in turn, I hope my gift will not only benefit the school but also inspire others to support the school during our anniversary.”

“In making this gift, Dean Pridemore sets a valuable example for school and campus colleagues," said Vice President for Advancement Fardin Sanai. “We are grateful for his generosity and leadership. The synergy between his gift and Dean Lizotte’s own generous donation makes it even more meaningful.”

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