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Lori Alden Receives First Thomas P. Kissane Memorial Award

New Rochelle, NY – Iona’s criminal justice department presented graduating senior Lori Alden of Yonkers, NY with the first Thomas P. Kissane Memorial Award at the College’s honors convocation in May. A founding faculty member of the department, Kissane was a professor at Iona for nearly 20 years and helped bring the Criminal Justice program to prominence.

Kissane instituted courses in anti-terrorism and art theft prevention in the 1970s, became a tenured associate professor in 1985, and took pride in assisting students in the program with post-scholastic employment. His academic career followed nearly 25 years in the New York Police Department where, as a captain of detectives, he commanded the elite Safe, Loft Truck Squad, founded one of the world's first art theft prevention police squads, developed the identification system for trucks and public vehicles used today, and worked closely with Scotland Yard, the federal authorities and INTERPOL. After leaving the NYPD, he also worked under a federal grant, through the University of Louisville, to co-ordinate national law enforcement efforts against truck hijacking by working with local authorities. He also served as director of staff services for the City of White Plains. He received his Ph.D. from Fordham University in 1989, having written his thesis on the psychology of terrorists, and started his career as a pharmacists mate, first class, in the United States Navy during WWII at the age of 17.

Today, the criminal justice department continues Kissane’s vision as one of Iona’s most popular majors, offering two baccalaureate degree programs and a master's degree program for students interested in careers both within and outside the field of criminal justice. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees and professional careers in the areas of law enforcement, probation and parole, public administration, education, law, and the behavioral sciences.

Founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, Iona College is a private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of American Catholic higher education. Iona, currently listed in the US News and World Report's annual " America's Best Colleges 2006" and The Princeton Review's Best Northeastern Colleges 2006 edition, offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as master of arts, master of science and master of business administration degrees and numerous post-graduate certificate programs.

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For questions or more information please contact:
Meghan Finn
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
tel: 914 633-2005 fax: 914 637-2711

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