 |
Catresa is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Criminal Justice Department. She is a graduate of Temple University School of Law, with a JD and MS in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University. She is also a member in good standing with the Pennsylvania bar. In addition, she clerked for the Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia – Criminal Division. In her free time, Catresa has published four novels. She also enjoys painting, drawing and other forms of creative expression.
Learn more about her at: catmeyers.com |
 |
Philadelphia based muralist, Eric Okdeh began creating public art in 1998. After receiving his BFA in painting from Tyler School of Art, Eric chose to focus on socially engaged public art exclusively. He came to that decision after comparing the experience of his first solo exhibit as a painter, with what he knew to be true about the process of creating inclusive large scale public works and the impact that process has on communities.
Community driven public art has the ability to provide a voice to those who feel disenfranchised and powerless. Eric has created multimedia projects tackling difficult subject matters, such as gambling, addiction, mass incarceration and overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Central to the process is conducting interviews in communities. Using art as a means to gather personal narratives, he is able to bring people’s stories to life and create a dialogue that is cathartic and promotes empathy and understanding. Additionally, the use of technology and social media platforms allow the conversation to continue beyond the completion of the physical work. Eric has facilitated art and mural making workshops in a wide array of communities including teens and adults, incarcerated men, as well as people in recovery programs. These classes serve as a vehicle for skill building, leadership and teamwork exercises, which culminate in major mural projects. Eric has found that the process of mural making provides a sense of inclusion and accomplishment among its participants that in turn empower them to take ownership in their work. Over the past few years institutions, city governments and organizations around the country have hired Eric to consult on projects in their cities. With over 20 years of experience in mural and mosaic making, and working with diverse populations, he brings an enormous technical skill set that help groups utilize art making as a process for community engagement and discovery. Eric has over 150 public art commissions throughout the northeast United States as well as murals in Hawaii, Spain, Jordan and Norway. He is proud to have created public art with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, and multiple Percent for Art programs and other public art organizations throughout the US and the world. His work is featured in seven books about public art. |
 |
Hannah Steinman received her BA from the University of Arkansas in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Arabic language in 2014 and MA in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology in 2020. During her undergraduate studies she interned with the United States Marshals Service and the Terrorism Research Center. For her Masters she explored Risk Terrain Modeling in Little Rock, AR through an 80-20 framework, receiving her certification through Rutgers in Risk Terrain Modeling and presenting at ASC. Her thesis examined street profiles in St. Louis through conjunctive analysis. Her research interests include environmental criminology, crime and place, GIS, and policing. Hannah has participated in art contests in St. Louis Missouri, winning the Pasta House Competition in recreating works of art. She has participated in the Fulbright Language festival reciting poetry from Iraqi poet Badr Shakir al-Sayyab. Painting and poetry are a passion that are pursued alongside her studies. |
 |
Kara Mshinda (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist with a background in photography and visual anthropology. Mshinda is best known for using collage, print, media, and lo-fi photography to develop visual narratives about identity, place, memory, and ephemera in daily life. Her artwork has been shown at Drexel University’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, Rush Arts Philadelphia, Mana Contemporary in Chicago, Commonweal, and Fleisher Art Memorial. In addition to practicing art, Mshinda is a faculty member at Tyler School of Art and Architecture where she teaches an art history course on race, identity, and art practices in the Americas. She serves as Fellowship Director at Da Vinci Art Alliance and is a member of the Arts at William Way LGBT Community Center and the artist-run gallery collective Tiger Strikes Asteroid. |
 |
Mollie Ducoste is a current PhD student at Temple University studying Criminal Justice with an interest in community-based crime prevention strategies, program evaluation, community violence, and community engagement in research partnerships. In her academic career, she worked on a NSF-funded research project studying adversarial behavior in cyberattacks, as well as a project examining street-level police proactivity. Mollie is also a jazz violinist, pianist, and producer who began studying music at the age of 3. Mollie enjoys integrating her passions for music and social justice, and she currently works as a music teacher with Beyond the Bars, a community-based music program for Philadelphia’s youth that is dedicated to interrupting the cycles of violence and incarceration. A Raleigh, NC native, she received her BS in Criminal Justice from Hampton University in 2017, and a MA in Criminal Justice from Temple University in 2019. |
 |
I am Steven Chen from Taiwan! I am a first-year PhD student in Criminal Justice at Temple University. After graduating from college, I started to be a corrections officer in Taiwan. From 2015 to 2016, I went to the United Kingdom to pursue my master’s degree in Human Rights and International Politics. At that time, I have travelled to several European countries. Apart from my work and study, I enjoy painting, photographing, hiking, and travelling. As to my interests in art, I do not define myself as a professional painter. I had attended a studio to learn watercolour painting for eight years since I was 7. After that, I do not receive any formal training. However, I started to paint due to anxiety disorder. Painting has become one of the most useful ways for me to destress. Since 2016, I have started to touch oil painting, and I realised I have a strong passion for it. My favourite artist is Vincent van Gogh, so in my oil painting works, he inspires me a lot. More information about myself can be found on the department’s website: https://liberalarts.temple.edu/academics/departments/criminal-justice/chen-yu-heng. |
 |
I received my BA in Criminal Justice from Temple University in 1981, completed my Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University in 1983 and was a Doctoral Student there as well. My background in the Criminal Justice field includes working as a researcher in jails in New Jersey, as a Criminal Justice Assistant Planner in Morris County, NJ. and as a Consultant to the Executive Director at the Youth Study Center from 1983 through 1985. I have experience teaching at Rutgers University (1985-86 and Temple University (1984 to 1986, 2004 to 2018). In addition, I have been developing my practice as an artist since I was a very young child. I enjoyed teaching art to children as an attempt to understand the integration of visual images and learning. All of this led to my interest in the intersection of art and justice and how they impact each other.
I believe art can often be used as a means of healing and self-discovery for individuals who are working their way through the maze of victimization, pursuing catharsis through restorative/social justice, and obtaining treatment through creativity. The creative process encourages the pursuit of personal expression through self-reflection, observation, curiosity, imagination and problem solving. While some of the tasks involved are solitary endeavors, there are situations that encourage great collaborations between creative people with different strengths which results in a sense of community and accomplishment. |
 |
Kathy Mueller is an award-winning graphic designer and an associate professor of advertising art direction in Temple’s Klein College of Media & Communication. Her creative work focuses on feminist projects that range from an exploration of social inequality to commercial projects that support women-owned enterprises. Kathy received her MFA in graphic and interactive design from Temple’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture in 2014. |
In Loving Memory of Justice Through Art Judge Robyn E. Buseman (January 19, 1954 – December 29, 2022)
Robyn has been with Justice Through Art from the beginning and we were so sad to hear of her passing. Below is an excerpt from her obituary. I paints a beautiful picture of a dynamic, compassionate, creative force of nature.
…After spending her girls’ early years as a stay-at-home Mom, Robyn decided it was time to complete her degree and become a working Mom. In 1985, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at West Chester University and soon embarked on an over 30-year career serving the community. She started as a Juvenile Probation Officer for Chester County and then moved over to VisionQuest, an alternative detention center, as Shelter Director. While still working full-time, she returned to school on weekends to earn a Master’s degree in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University in 1993. This degree enabled her to transition to St. Gabriel’s Hall, a residential facility for court adjudicated delinquent males. At St. Gabe’s, she combined her passions for gardening and criminal justice to develop the MitchellProgram, an agricultural-based program designed to develop empathy and skills with the population. After 10 years at St. Gabe’s, Robyn moved on to the Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia, where she remained until her retirement in 2018. At Mural Arts, she served as Restorative Justice Program Director, developing programs for youth and adults involved in the criminal justice system using art as the medium. She was distinctly proud of her work originating and launching The Guild, a unique reentry and probation services development program.
Retirement did not slow Robyn down. In addition to periodically consulting for Mural Arts, she added the role of Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Temple University. She appreciated being able to share her real-world experiences with students. However, she spent most of her retirement doing the three things she enjoyed most: traveling, gardening, and spending time with her grandkids. From India to Tanzania to an epic three-month RV trip visiting national parks, Robyn was always on the go, most often with her partner, Mark. When at home, she transformed their yard into an Audubon-certified Bird-Friendly Habitat full of native plants. She fully relished in her long-awaited role as grandma and took every opportunity to indulge her grandkids.
Strong-willed and stubborn, yet soft-hearted and caring, Robyn applied artful grace to illuminate the lives of many. In freely sharing her passions, she inspired others to look beyond their immediate condition and seek greater knowledge of the world. She will be remembered for her commitment to justice, passion for nature and love for her family.