Dr. Ken Ayers

Dr. Ken Ayers
Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice
kenay@kwc.edu

BA University of Florida
MS Eastern Kentucky University
Ph.D. Sam Houston State University

Dr. Ken Ayers joined the KWC faculty in 1978 as the first faculty of the new Criminal Justice, Criminology and Law program.  He retired after 40 years of service in 2018. During his tenure at KWC the Criminal Justice, Criminology and Law program expanded from 5 majors to become one of the top four programs in the college. Dr. Ayers was a professor, published researcher, KWC softball coach (17 years), captain of the KWC Leadership through Sailing Program (20 years) and organized the KWC Cuba experience study abroad program.  As a professor he taught courses throughout the 4-year curriculum. As a researcher his primary focus was on white collar crime, police behavior, public attitudes towards police and heath care of pregnant inmates. As the softball coach he was inducted into the KWC Athletic Hall of Fame. As the Captain of the sailing program, he took student sailing in the Virgin Islands, Dry Tortugas, Kentucky Lake, and the Ohio River. Since 2012 he has traveled and continues to travel with students, faculty, alumni to Cuba.

Courses Taught

Freshman Introductory Courses
Senior Capstone Courses
Criminal Law & Procedure
White-Collar Crime
Criminal Investigation
Advanced Criminological Theory
A variety of special topics courses

Publications

Journal Articles:

  • Police Attitude toward DUI Legislation, Journal of Police Science and Administration. (with James Frank and M. Fagan). December, 1984.
  • Professors of the Street: Police Mentors. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. (with M. Michael Fagan) Volume 5 (1), pp 8-13. January, l985.
  • Deciding to Prosecute White Collar Crime. A National Study of States Attorneys Generals. Justice Quarterly. (with J. Frank) Volume (3)pp 42-44 Sept 1987.

Book Articles:

  • Should Incarceration of Pregnant Women Be Avoided? In Controversial Issues in Corrections by Charles B. Fields (Author), Steven A. Egger (Author) pp, 90-98. September 1998.

Research Bulletins:

  • Police Attitudes toward DUI Legislation – Part 2. Research Bulletin from the Criminal Justice Research Center, Kentucky Wesleyan College. No 3, Spring, 1987.
  • Police Attitudes Toward DUI Legislation – Part1. Research Bulletin from the Criminal Justice Research Center, Kentucky Wesleyan College. No. 2, Winter, 1987.

Grants

Statistical Analysis Center Grant. Detailed crime analysis of violent offenses. Grant is designed to provide detailed information to law enforcement agencies for the primary purpose of planning and management decisions. Joint research project with Kentucky Wesleyan College, The University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University and the Kentucky Attorney General. Total grant $39,993.00.

PSCoR Grant: Geographical Analysis of Violent Crime in Kentucky – 1988. With Terry Edwards, Shannon Barton, Stephanie Stidham. Kentucky EPSCoR 1991 Regional University Visiting Scholars Program.

Academic Experience

1995 – 2005, KWC, Chair of Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Criminal Justice
1986 – 1998, KWC, Director of The Criminal Justice Research Center
1978 — present, KWC, Professor and Director of Criminal Justice

Leadership and Co-Curricular Experience

1995-2003, KWC, Director of the Leadership Through Sailing Program

Military Experience

Active Duty: 1968-1973 & 2003-2005
Reserve Duty: 1986-2008
Rank: Commander – Retired

2003 – 2005: Office of Naval Intelligence, National Maritime Intelligence Center, Suitland, Maryland
o Team Leader – Maritime Interception/Interdiction Operations Mobile Training Team

1986 – Present: Navy Intelligence Officer

Professional Criminal Justice Experience

  • 1993 – 2000: Consultant to the Jefferson County Police Merit Board, Louisville, KY. Duties: Develop and implement a program to assist minority selection to the rank of sergeant
  • 1990 – 1997: Member of the Captain’s Selection Board for the Kentucky State Police, Frankfort, KY. Duties: To interview and make recommendation of state police personnel to the rank of Captain
  • 1987: Vice-Chair of the Attorney General’s Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse for Region 3, Frankfort, KY
  • 1986 – 1998: Chair of the Sheriff’s Merit Selection Board for Daviess County, KY
  • 1977-1978: Correctional Officer, Federal Correctional Institute, Tallahassee, FL

Professional Associations, Memberships and Licenses

  • Former President of the Southern Criminal Justice Association
  • Former Vice President of the Southern Criminal Justice Association
  • Former Board Member of the Southern Criminal Justice Association
  • Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
  • Southern Criminal Justice Association
  • US Coast Guard Merchant Marine Masters License – Auxiliary sail endorsement
  • STCW Certificate
  • American Sailing Association Instructor