‘And Justice for All’ Series Looks at Charlottesville’s Aftermath on Nov. 7

And Justice for All Charlottesville

The popular Muskegon Community College “And Justice for All…” series continues with a panel discussion of “Charlottesville: Race, Religion and Justice” on Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Carolyn I. and Peter Sturrus Technology Center, 388 W. Clay, in downtown Muskegon.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this free event, which will be held in the building’s Student Center on the first floor.

“The increasing number of hate incidents around the nation has generated attention on how public policy makers should respond,” explained MCC President Dale K. Nesbary. “This solution-focused panel of nationally respected scholars and practitioners will provide their perspective on how we move forward.”

The panelists are:

  • Dale K. Nesbary, who is in his ninth year as president of Muskegon Community College.
  • Heather J. Garretson, a professor of law and a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Criminal Issues Initiative;
  • Erik Love, the author of Islamophobia and Racism in America (NYU Press, 2017) and an assistant professor of sociology at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania;
  • Morris Jenkins, a professor of criminal justice and former dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Southeastern Missouri State University; and
  • Andy Wible, an instructor of philosophy at MCC, will moderate the panel discussion.

Dr. Dale K. Nesbary previously held academic and administrative positions with Adrian College and Oakland University. The Research Director and Technical Services Director with the Boston Police Department, he worked as an administrator with the City of Boston, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency. His research agenda includes over 30 academic books and papers primarily focusing on corrections spending, police behavior, and police technology. At Oakland University, he directed the Master of Public Administration Program and launched the Criminal Justice Leadership Concentration. He holds a Ph.D. in Law Policy and Society from Northeastern University, a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.

Heather Garretson, J.D. is an experienced litigator and former law professor who researches and consults on criminal justice reform issues and the collateral consequences of a conviction. Her professional background gives her a unique perspective on the criminal justice system and its impact. She is currently the ACLU of Michigan’s Campaign Manager for the Smart Justice Campaign which seeks to cut incarceration in half and eliminate racial bias from the criminal justice system. As a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas City, Garretson prosecuted federal narcotics cases and argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Following her work with the U.S. Attorney’s office, she practiced white-collar criminal defense then moved into academia. As a Scholar in Residence at CUNY Law School in New York, she published her research on legislation aimed at reducing barriers for people with criminal records.

Dr. Erik Love, a sociology professor who also served as chair of Middle East Studies at Dickinson College, has had his research on civil rights advocacy receive support from several places, including a grant from the National Science Foundation and a fellowship from the James Weldon Johnson Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His writing has appeared on Al Jazeera English, Jadaliyya, and in peer-reviewed academic publications.

Dr. Morris Jenkins, who joined Southeastern Missouri State University in 2013, has been an associate professor and assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Toledo, associate director of SOS Community Services in Ypsilanti, Mich., adjunct professor of business law and American government at Terra Community College in Fremont, Ohio, and assistant professor of administration of justice program at Penn State University, Abington College.

For more information on the “And Justice for All…” series, contact the MCC Office of the Provost at (231) 777-0266.