Ten Questions for Dr. Blankenship

What were your first impressions of BSU?
I accepted the offer of employment in 2002 because of the great things that were already underway and because of the potential. BSU is fortunate to be located in the state capital and in the population center, as well  in a locale that is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. I was impressed with the quality of scholarship and the dedication of the faculty and staff.  The faculty in the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs work very hard to provide a multitude of learning opportunities for students while making a difference in our communities through their research and service.

What are your areas of academic interest?
A large portion of my intellectual passion is devoted to developing a better understanding of capital punishment. As a social scientist, I am concerned about the disconnect between research and crime control policies in general, but especially in the area of capital punishment. Another area of interest is white-collar crime. Perhaps capital punishment and white-collar crime are opposite sides of the same coin from the perspective of who is and is not punished in our society. I am currently working on the second edition of a statistics text book with my co-authors Gennaro Vito and Julie Kunselman.

What is your teaching philosophy?
There are several components to my teaching philosophy. First, I believe that true understanding comes at a price. It takes hard work, focus, and the will to succeed in order to master a topic. Therefore, I tend to assign lots of reading and communication assignments (writing and speaking) in my classes. Not only do students need levels of understanding of the subject, they also should strive to master basic academic competences such as writing, speaking, and problem solving. Second,  I endeavor to make the value of a degree from the university worth more tomorrow than it is today. Why do people hold institutions such as Harvard, University of Southern California, or several other institutions in such high regard? Why are students and their families willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition to attend such universities? Part of the answer is prestige and part is the quality of the educational experience (these items are reciprocal). My goal is to contribute to enhancing the prestige of BSU and to improve the learning experience of students by sharing my expertise on a particular subject matter while guiding students through the learning process. I do not give grades, they are earned. Third, I do not assume that students are empty vessels that simply need to be filled with facts and figures, and then send them on their way. Learning is a life-time commitment, so I work to instill that desire along with the tools to succeed. Last, learning should be fun and exciting. Many students comment on my enthusiasm. I love what I do; when the excitement stops, I'll go find another occupation.

Why did you choose criminology and criminal justice as a field of study?
It seemed logical to pursue a degree in criminal justice since I was a police officer interested in advancing my career. After completing my undergraduate degree, I realized quickly that opportunities for me to use my degree would be limited given the size of the department (Asheville, NC had a population of about 60,000 at that time) and the internal politics. I resigned my commission and ran away to graduate school, earning an M.P.A. degree and then making a decision to stay with criminal justice instead of changing disciplines.

What is your fondest memory of college?
I did not start college until I was 23 years old. Not only am I a first-generation college graduate, but I am the first in my extended family to earn graduate degrees. I was a police officer when I started college, and I will be forever indebted to David Warren, the individual who started the program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical College and to Melvin Tucker, the former Chief of Police in Asheville, who created environment conducive to attending college. As a doctoral student, I made friends with many of my fellow students and faculty that continue to sustain me today.

What was your most enjoyable subject(s) in college?
As an undergraduate, I really enjoyed British Literature, which was offered by Dr. Peg Downs, a truly gifted professor . Milton's Paradise Lost made the biggest impression on me. I was also impressed with sophistication of Sophocles' understanding of human behavior in Oedipus Rex. In graduate school, I enjoyed research methods and statistics. In fact, one of my stat professors, Dr. Trey Williams, was rather surprised when I published a statistics text.

Who and what are some of the influences in your life?
I have tremendous respect for my mother and father and how they influenced many aspects in my life, such as integrity, respect for others, and humor. My wife has always supported me (okay, she has tolerated me also!). Two of my oldest friends, Dr. Gennaro Vito and Dr. Dan Brown, have been instrumental in shaping my career in various ways. My closest friends in Boise, Dr. Jones and Dr. Eastman (pictured below) have been excellent mentors during my time in Boise. Embracing the scientific method and

What is the most interesting aspect of living in Boise?
I believe we are fortunate to live in a great part of the United States. However, we are faced with some very significant issues that threaten the quality of life in the region. These issues, resulting from a combination of population growth and a political philosophy that eschews investment in people, provide graduates of BSU with some unique challenges. This is especially true of criminal justice majors.

What are your favorite books and movies?
I was very impressed with Stephen Jay Gould's The Mismeasure of Man. While Gould revealed  the abuse of the scientific method, he also demonstrated one of its primary strengths - the ability to replicate research as a means of independent verification and the process of continual inquiry. I was also impressed with The Godless Constitution, by Isaac Kramnick and Lawrence Moore. 

I am a big movie fan. The list of my favorite movies has to be divided by topic. I like to watch the heroic struggles of men and women at war, so I have a small collection of war movies, foremost of which is 12 O'Clock High and The Guns of Navarone. Both featured Gregory Peck and both delve into the issue of doing whatever it takes to get the job done, including personal sacrifice. My favorite death penalty movies are Dead Man Walking and Paths of Glory. The latter is a war movie, but deals with the issue of the arbitrary exercise of power. I am also a sci fi fan, so Star Wars is among my favorites (yes, I love Star Trek - the original and the spin-offs). One of my favorite TV shows is Miami Ink.

Who are some people that you would like to meet?
There are too many people, living and deceased, that I would like to include on this list. A short version includes playing golf with Paula Zahn (news anchor for CNN) and with Ellen Goodman (Pulitzer Prize winner and syndicated columnist), having a conversation with President Kennedy, Gandhi, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Dr. Edwin Sutherland, and Dr. Martin Luther King.