Leading the Way in the CSI Field



Collectively, Professors Craig Laker, John Milliken, and Ann Benson stand at the forefront of TSU's criminal justice and forensic science field. Their diverse educational and practical experience helps to give the forensic science major a well-rounded education in one of the fastest growing fields on TSU campus. Whether it is law, law enforcement, or science, a breadth of knowledge will be covered during a student's four year stay at TSU in both the criminal justice and science departments.

Craig Laker
Associate professor Craig Laker is the chair of the criminal science department. He has completed coursework toward a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati, a Master's of Art, majoring in criminal justice; a Master's of Public Affairs, a Bachelor's of Science, and a certificate of business studies from Indiana University. On the TSU campus since 1999, he teaches courses on institutional corrections, correctional law, public administration, micro/macro-economics, and serial killers. He teaches classes on the main campus, TSU North, TSU Fort Wayne, and TSU Four County Vocational. His research interests include probation and parole, white collar crime, sociology of deviance, juvenile incarceration, intermediate sanctions, and animal laws.

John Milliken
John Milliken is an assistant professor in criminal justice. Having engaged in the general practice of law for 26 years, as well as serving as a substitute judge, Milliken brings a unique perspective to the criminal justice department. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Toledo and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Ohio State University. Milliken has been a part of the Tri-State family since 2003. He teaches introduction to government, criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence, and American constitutional development.

Ann Benson
Ann Benson is the science department chair at TSU. Since 1985, Benson has served as the director of the Northeastern Indiana Tri-State Regional Science Fair, a member of the Teacher Education Committee, and past chairman of the Self-Study Committee for Reaccreditation. She has also published three general chemistry laboratory manuals. Among her degrees are a Master's of Education from Indiana University, two bachelor's degrees, one in chemistry from Tulane University and one in science education from Tri-State University. She has also received the Northeast Indiana Section of the American Chemical Society Chemist of the Year award in 1999 and the McKetta Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994 and 2002. She has taught the following classes: general chemistry classes and labs, chemistry-its ideas and applications with the laboratory, and criminalistics and crime scene investigation lab.