University News

Myers named Director of WIU's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

June 21, 2017

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University Professor Jill Joline Myers has been named director of the University's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA), effective July 1, according to College of Education and Human Services Dean Erskine Smith.

Myers has served as interim director of the school since July 2015.

"Ms. Myers brings many years of experience to the position," said Smith. "She has served the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration well as interim director, and will continue to build upon the School's successes."

Myers joined WIU's LEJA faculty in 2004. Prior to coming to Western, Myers served as a state prosecutor and special assistant U.S. prosecutor in Baltimore (MD), where she was the division chief of special investigations, a unit that focused on employing wire, electronic and oral surveillance techniques to investigate major criminal organizations, drug traffickers and terrorist activities.

While at Western, Myers has taught graduate and undergraduate students, primarily in courses addressing legal issues concerning criminal justice practitioners. In addition, she regularly teaches and acts as a consultant to state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute, state and regional educational institutions, as well as legislative bodies, including the Washington, D.C./Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). She also serves as an expert regarding First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and 14th Amendment issues, as well as surveillance technologies and applications under the USA PATRIOT Act and various state and federal statutes.

During her time at Western, Myers has received the 2013 Centennial Honors College Award of Excellence in Teaching and the 2011 of Provost's Award of Excellence in Teaching with Technology. In 2011 and 2009, she received the Best in Track Award for Creative Research Activities in the WIU Faculty Research Symposium, and in 2009, she received the College of Education and Human Services' Faculty Research Award. In 2006, Myers also received the Outstanding First Year Experience Faculty Member Award. In addition, in 2014 and 2008, Myers received awards for Special Recognition for Diversity Efforts.

As the author of numerous academic articles, books and text books, Myers' research interests and publication record includes constitutional law and human rights issues, the collection of information and data through technology and its impact on privacy, civil liability of state agents, violence reduction strategies and policy, witness intimidation, cyber bullying and digital citizenship concerns.

Myers was elected to the Macomb School Board in 2013 and 2017, and she currently serves as board president. She also occasionally has served as a script consultant for the Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO) production of "The Wire."

Myers earned her juris doctorate from the University of Baltimore.

For more information, contact Dana Moon, director of marketing and community relations in the College of Education and Human Services, at (309) 298-1690 or DM-Moon@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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