Distinguished Alumni
The Department of Justice Studies recognizes alumni who after graduating excelled in life, achieving distinction and enhancing the reputation of the Department through their exemplary career, contributions to their field, and/or contributions to the Department.
Roster of Distinguished Alumni
Rosa Vega - B.S. Administration of Justice 2000
Rosa Vega received her Master's of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Forensic Science Administration from Loyola University New Orleans and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Administration of Justice with a minor in Physical Anthropology from San Jose State University. Rosa is a Diplomate Registered Death Investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. In September 2022, she was appointed as the Coroner for a well-established and reputable California Coroner's Office. Rosa is dedicated and passionate about the Medicolegal field. She is an experienced Investigator who has personally investigated over 3,000 deaths including mass shootings, airplane accidents, child deaths, and homicides. In 2017 Rosa was awarded San Jose State University's Department of Justice Studies Distinguished Alumni award.
Samantha Peek - B.S Forensic Science
Samantha Peek is a San Jose State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science Concentration in Chemistry. She obtained her Master's Degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University. She completed an internship with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives researching explosives and fire debris analysis. She later worked as a Lab Assistant for the Santa Clara County Crime Lab.
Currently, she is the Chief Executive Officer and a Certified Fire Investigator for her company, Fire Investigation Industries, where she completes fire investigations, conducts training for law enforcement and fire departments, and researches fire and explosives. She has been a fire investigator for 9 years and has conducted over 400 fire investigations. She is currently teaching as a lecturer at San Jose State University.
Virginia Montelongo, BS., M.S. Criminal Justice
Virginia Montelongo is a lecturer in the Department of Justice Studies. She is a native of San Jose City, was a field worker in our "Valley of Heart's Delights," and lived with and through many of the changes that have occurred in Santa Clara County. Virginia is an alumnus of San Jose State University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Criminal Justice (with an emphasis on Female Offenders). She is a lecturer in the Justice Studies Department. She is also an Associate Faculty at Evergreen Valley College (EVC) in the Administration of Justice Department for the past thirteen years. While at EVC, she created the curriculum for three classes she teaches "Women and the Criminal Justice System" and “Probation, Parole, and Intermediate Sanctions.” The third class she created is “ Introduction to Public Safety Community Service Officer,” which is part of a statewide four-course Badge Certificate, “ Certificate of Achievement in Community Service Officer.” Virginia is a retired Santa Clara County Deputy Probation Officer with 29 ½ years of service. She supervised juveniles and adults in controlled environments and the community. She created and taught an 8-hour certified course, “Female Offenders,” for the Probation Department for Probation staff to gain an understanding of the gender-responsive services and needs of female offenders. Virginia also held the assignment of Court Officer in the Proposition 36 Drug Court. She gets satisfaction from teaching students how to be responsible and contribute to society. She encourages all students to use “Each One, Teach One,” an African proverb that teaches lifting each other. Her motto is “Never forget where you come from, and give back to your community.”
Dina Kameda, M.S., J.D.
Susie Rivera, M.S., J.D.
Sheree Martinek, M.S., M.P.A.
Kenneth Kwok, M.S. Justice Studies
Kenneth Kwok graduated with a Master’s in Justice Studies in 2006. He joined the Fremont Police Department right after graduation and has been with the department for 18 years. Kenneth attended the San Jose Police Department Academy as an “allied agency” and graduated in the winter of 2006. His collateral assignments as an officer included Field Training Officer (FTO- 9 years), SWAT Technology Officer (9 years), Crime Scene Investigator (CSI- 5 years), Detective (1 year of financial crimes, 2 years as sexual assault/child abuse), Defensive Tactics instructor, explorer advisor (5 years), and peer mentor. In 2016, he was one of the department’s first UAV pilots.
In 2019, Kenneth was promoted to sergeant, and he is currently assigned to the Professional Standards and Accountability unit.He is also the Special Investigator to Chief Sean Washington (another SJSU J.S. Alumni) and the supervisor of the UAV unit. Kenneth helped implement an experimental program known as Drone as First Responder (DFR), making the City of Fremont the only city to have a joint Public Safety Drone Program.
Eric Kwong, B.S. Forensic Science
Eric Kwong is a lecturer teaching Forensic Science Applications and Crime Scene and Evidence Photography. He graduated San Jose State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Science and later earned his Master's Degree in Forensic Science at the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.
2018
Hon. Robert Rigsby - BS 1983, Criminal Justice Administration
2016
Scott Reese - B.S. 1993
2015
Chief Ruben Chavez - B.S. 1992, M.S. 2009
2014
Chief Larry Esquivel - B.S. 1993
2012
Mario Fausto - B.S. 1995
2011
Cary Heck - Ph.D., M.S. 1994
2010
Phillip Carr - M.S. 1991
2009
Harry Mullins - Ph.D., B.S. 1969
2008
Janet Hagemann - M.S. 1981
2007
Edward Flores - B.S. 1991
2006
John Salazar - B.S. 1980
2005
Jess Guy - B.S. 1970, M.S. 1989
2004
John Marlo - B.S. 1956
2003
William Nay - B.S. 1977, MS 1988
2002
Scott MacDonald - B.S. 1995
2001
Sheriff Laurie Smith - B.S. 1993*
*Faculty voted on February 25, 2022 to rescind the Distinguished Alumni award (2001) to this individual because she diminished her reputation through her actions and failed to uphold her distinction as an outstanding alumni.
2000
Robert Conroy - B.S. 1991
1999
Chief William Lansdowne - B.S. 1973
1998
Lucy Carlton - B.S. 1979
1997
Chief Pamela Roskowski - B.S. 1975
1996
Shi-Si Yuen
1995
Christopher Darden - B.S. 1977
(Award Created in 1995)