Frank A. Rodriguez
Dr. Frank Anthony Rodriguez is originally from Deep South Texas. He/she/it/they/them is an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at NC Central University. Dr. Rodriguez enjoys learning and teaching face-to-face, online, blended, and Hyflex courses.
He also developed and facilitates Open Educational Resources (OER) to help students save thousands of dollars each semester. Dr. Rodriguez joined NCCU in the fall of 2015. He earned a bachelor's degree in police administration and a master's in criminal justice at the University of Texas Pan American (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley).
In 2013, Dr. Rodriguez earned his/her/their Ph.D. in juvenile justice at Prairie View A&M University. His/her areas of specialization include immigration policy/issues, US/Mexico border relations, race/ethnicity/gender crime and justice, juvenile justice, Latinx studies, law enforcement, homeland security/emergency management, first responders, and multiculturalism in criminal justice. Dr. Rodriguez is also passionate about human rights.
Growing up as a migrant farm worker, raised by a mixed family (some members of the family are undocumented) and living on the US/Mexico border in Texas, has allowed him/her to see first-hand the struggles and tribulations of undocumented immigrants and LatinXs in the US. Dr. Rodriguez has published and presented at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Dr. Rodriguez taught at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA, and was a visiting professor at Prairie View A&M University and at the University of Houston-Downtown.
Dr. Rodriguez has practitioner experience as a police officer, security officer and youth counselor in Texas, taught bilingual elementary and high school, and was a varsity baseball coach. Currently, Dr. Rodriguez is a volunteer firefighter with Timberlake Fire and Rescue (certified firefighter Level I and Level II in the state of NC). In his/her free time, he/she enjoys jogging, hiking, camping, kayaking, and playing racquetball.