Law Enforcement Program Director Speaks at Howard University’s Global Justice Symposium

Centering his talk on his firsthand experience as a former New York Police Department Lieutenant, Kishon C. Hickman, Sr., EdD., director of the Law Enforcement Executive Leadership (LEEL) master’s program at Seton Hall, presented at Howard University on April 24, 2025. The international symposium brought together global experts and emerging scholars to examine modern challenges in public safety and criminal justice reform.

“It was an absolute honor to speak at Howard University. The HBCU ‘mecca’ was everything I imagined — brilliant minds, bold questions and a powerful sense of purpose,” said Hickman, reflecting on his experience at the renowned Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

In his talk, “The Global Prism of Criminal Justice: Challenges and Ways Forward,” Hickman explored the shifting landscape of policing and emphasized the urgent need for executive leadership grounded in integrity, accountability and community engagement. Building on his professional and academic insights, he discussed how ongoing reform efforts are transforming the expectations and responsibilities of today’s law enforcement leaders.

“My presentation on my law enforcement career in the NYPD and transition to academia underscoring police reform's impact on executive leadership was well-received,” Hickman said. “It generated productive discussions about global approaches to 21st-century policing models.”

Hosted by Reynaldo Ortiz-Minaya, Ph.D., director of the Criminology Program at Howard and a Fulbright Scholar, the symposium, “From the Global to the Local: Criminal Justice Challenges and Ways Forward?”, was supported by a range of international partners including Ulster University (Northern Ireland), Universidade Federal Fluminense (Brazil) and the French Ministry of Justice. It drew an audience of faculty, students and justice professionals from around the world, including representatives from the Santa Fe Institute’s Project ARCH, as well as scholars like NYU Professor of History Kevin Kenny, Ph.D., and Howard’s Assistant Professor of Law Tiffany Williams Brewer, J.D.

Hickman’s presence at the event was also marked by a symbolic moment during Howard University’s traditional pinning ceremony, where he was formally welcomed into the university community. 

Beyond the conference hall, Hickman engaged with faculty, students and institutional leaders, including Provost Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D., R.Ph. He also visited significant campus landmarks such as the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and took part in cultural events including the Changó Gala, hosted by Howard’s Afro-Latine Student Association and Spanish-Speaking Society.
Hickman noted that his participation supports curriculum development at Seton Hall — specifically the creation of a Comparative Justice Systems course within the LEEL program — and enhances ongoing research and textbook work. He is currently under contract with Sage Publishing as co-author of Policing (In)Justice, a forthcoming textbook slated for release in 2028.

“As director of Seton Hall’s LEEL program, I was proud to share how we are preparing the next generation of public safety leaders to meet this moment with courage, clarity, and compassion,” he said. “After this experience, I look forward to building bridges between our institutions, so together, we can shape a more just and visionary future in criminal justice.”

Learn more about the Online M.A. in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership program.

Categories: Education, Law