Lt. Lauren Signer, B.A. �86 M.A. �95, only the second woman in the history of the Albany Police Department to earn the rank of lieutenant, became department spokesperson and one of the seven city police officers promoted on March 17 at City Hall.

In her new position, Signer will be in direct contact with the media through the community service unit of her department. It will be her responsibility to build a working relationship with the media and provide them with a clear picture of the events that occur with the city police. �The public hasn�t had the opportunity to understand some of the things we do, to walk in our shoes. I enjoy helping people understand what this public service agency is all about,� said Signer.

In order to be eligible for this promotion, one must first pass the Civil Service test, and then pass promotional exams. Signer was first promoted to the rank of sergeant, and then moved on to become a lieutenant. In 1986, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and in 1995 received her Master�s degree in Criminal Justice.

Signer said her educational experience at Albany provided her with the knowledge and background to be successful in her career. She recalled many professors that made an impact on her life. �I took one of Dr. Marc Nepo�s creative writing courses. As a professor, he was inspirational, encouraging and mind- expanding. He also later gave me a recommendation for the police force.

�Madam Suzanne Sroka, who taught my graduate French classes, was always pushing me to get a master�s degree. She was very motivational, and I still keep in touch with her today. And my statistics teacher, Dr. Brown, made the course fun, easy and understandable. He was the best teacher I ever had,� Signer said.

As for being one of only two woman lieutenant�s in her department, Signer did not feel she was at a disadvantage because of gender. She said that the training the academy provides weighs out all the differences between people, everyone must perform to a certain standard. �The tests that we take do not discriminate, they are based on intellectual capacity. The department has always been encouraging and accepting,� said Signer.

Albany Police Chief Kevin Tuffey called the group of seven officers �the best of the best.�

Five other alumni from the school of Criminal Justice have made notable accomplishments in their fields. John H. Laub, Ph.D. �80; MA �76, was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Criminology in November, 1996. Michael Regan, MA �88, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the New York State Police in January 1997. Christine Root, MA �77, was recently elected President of the SUNY Librarian Association for 1996-1997. Jay Simpson, MA �81, has been appointed to be Head Judge for Freestyle Skiing at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Naparo. Ann Thomas Sulton earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland-College Park in 1984 and a J.D./Law Degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985.

Five local alumni of the University returned in February to discuss careers in Criminal Justice. Debbie Chard-Wierschem, Alice Green, Debbie McLeod, Rick Rosen and Tom Slater represented careers in higher education teaching, government research, administration, and community activism. Their essential message was that there exitst abundant career opportunities for careers in criminal justice, but developing them takes assiduous networking and devoted searching. They all recognized that although going to work is stressful and anxiety producing, with diligence and effort people end up doing the sort of thing that rewards both the body and the spirit.

Rich Prafder, the recipient of the University at Albany Graduating Senior Award of Marketing from the School of Business in 1989, is currently releasing a reggae album titled Saxsemilla �Kingston Sessions� which features Prafder and Jamaican saxophonist Deadly Headly Bennett. Bennett recorded on Bob Marley�s first song �One Cup of Coffee� and the album features other reggae greats including Grammy winner Michael Rose.

Prafder played the saxophone in the University Community Symphonic Band. This project has been a work-in-progress for almost three years.