Lewis University Online Faculty

Ken Folisi

Ken Folisi joined the university's Justice Law and Public Safety Studies Department as an Assistant Professor in 2006 after retiring from a 25-year fire service career. As a fire service member, he served as a firefighter/paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion Chief for 8 years prior to retirement. He has a Bachelors Degree in Fire Science from Southern Illinois University and a Master of the Science of Management degree from National-Louis University. He holds a State of Illinois, Office of State Fire Marshal Division of Personal Standards and Education, Fire Officer III Certification. He was involved in training and education his entire career. During his career he attended many training and education venues including the National Fire Academy, National Conferences, and other well-known state and local learning opportunities. He has presented fire service topics at various training and education venues at the local, state and national levels, including the Fire Department Instructors Conference and Illinois Fire Chiefs Conference. Over the years, he has delivered many fire and management related courses at all education and training levels. He has authored numerous articles and has contributed to several fire service books. He has consulting experience in fire- and management-related topics and as a member of consulting teams has worked for such clients as Microsoft, NASA, and the State of Pennsylvania. His primary duties at Lewis are course development and teaching in the Bachelors of Arts Degree Fire Service Administration program.

Education:

• B/A Southern Illinois University 1990
• MSM National Louis University 1995
• Certification: Office of Fire Marshal State of Illinois Fire Officer III

Dr. Calvin R. Edwards

Professor and Department Chair of the Justice, Law and Public Safety Studies Department, Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois

Dr. Edwards has been teaching in higher education for the past eight years and has been the Chair of the Department of Justice, Law and Public Safety Studies at Lewis University for the past five years. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Elmhurst College, Elmhurst Illinois, Master of Social Work from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Dr. Edwards has worked in the field of corrections for over 25 years. He served in numerous roles with the Federal Bureau of Prisons including warden, regional director and assistant director. He later served as Executive Deputy Director and Interim Director of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections. Dr. Edwards is a recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive given by the President of the United States.

Education:

• B.A., Elmhurst College, 1971
• M.S.W., Washington University, 1972
• M.P.A., University of Southern California, 1993
• D.P.A., University of Southern California, 1994

Dr. Lynn A. Tovar

Assistant Professor at Lewis University, Romeoville Illinois in the Justice, Law and Public Safety Studies Department

Dr. Tovar's area of teaching expertise is in domestic violence, juvenile justice, human resources, leadership and research. She also was the leading principle developer of the online Public Safety Administration master's degree program. She is a twenty-five year veteran of law enforcement retiring as a Commander with the Elk Grove Village Police Department a law enforcement agency in the Chicago land area. A career law enforcement professional, Lynn has been involved in street patrol, criminal, and youth investigations with a specialization of child sexual abuse and domestic violence. As a supervisor, she oversaw the Youth Investigation/Crime Prevention Division, Field Training Division, K-9, Bike Patrol and Tactical Unit. Lynn has presented internationally and nationally on law enforcement topics in China, Finland, Illinois, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Texas, Washington, Ohio, Arizona, and Michigan. She has been published in both law enforcement and human resource development journals. In addition to her work at Lewis University she teaches at the prestigious School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University and continues to consult on matters of criminal and social justice, human resource development, leadership education and vicarious traumatization to first responders. Lynn received her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois, and holds a Masters Degree and a Doctoral Degree in Adult Continuing Education with a focus in Human Resource Development from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

Education:

• B.S., Southern Illinois University, 1980
• M.S., Northern Illinois University, 1998
• Ed.D., Northern Illinois University, 2002