Strings of yarn stretch from one point to another. Minds meld to discover hidden clues. Theories dance in the air with an unkempt energy. As humanity battles crime and fear, there are agents and officers working to ensure that those who have been wronged find justice. These agents don’t just focus on righting the wrongs. They also strive to understand those who commit crimes to work towards a world where they can prevent crime before it begins. As the world continues forward, time presses humanity on, forcing new generations to tackle the questions of crime.

At Rosemont College, Gene Lanzillo helps his students understand how to prevent crime as well as understand those who commit it. For graduate students, Gene is a professor of the Department of Homeland Security. He teaches classes that focus on the psychology of terrorism, intelligence for homeland security, researching and writing, and homeland security capstone. He also teaches research colloquium at times. With his undergraduate students, he explores criminal investigations and human rights and social justice. His exploration of all the different aspects of crime allow his students to find new ways of bringing justice to all citizens who have been wronged.

An Ironic Connection

Gene worked in the FBI for 21 years. Ironically, he discovered Rosemont College through his partner, who was an alum of Rosemont. Back in 2011, Gene was the head of the FBI’s response team in Philadelphia as his fulltime job. Once he stopped working cases, he processed crime scenes locally and nationally. When Dean Kolick called the FBI and requested for some agents to visit and talk about crime scenes, Gene was their pick. His heart had never left Rosemont since. “I guess [Dean Kolick] liked what he saw, because he kept inviting me back,” Gene says with a laugh. “So, we kept in touch…We did training on Rosemont’s campus. We set it up and used the facilities and had some of the criminal justice students observe what we did.” Once the homeland security program was created at Rosemont, Gene attended it as a student, himself. “It was tough,” Gene says with a glimmer in his eyes, “I was an adult learner doing a fulltime job. When I graduated, Jay asked me if I’d like to teach, so I’ve been teaching ever since.”

Educating Adult Learners

Gene focuses much on his adult learners at Rosemont. “I love when you get a student that…hasn’t written a paper since undergrad.” As a previous adult learner himself, Gene uses his experience to drive his education, enhancing students’ experience and helping them feel understood. “Their time is essential, [so] I protect their time…I love dealing with students, especially the life-learners…Those who are in their second careers or those who couldn’t finish college before. I like to encourage their choices…I give them resources to go to as an adult to fix that problem.”

Since all of Gene’s classes are online, Gene explores ways to keep the human connection through the screen. “Making that connection is difficulty,” Gene says with sobriety. “I love the online learning. I love the flexibility. This distance enhances so much of what we do, but…I still try to find ways to bring [connection] back.” Through his students, he discovers many diverse experiences and points of view. “I tell [students to not] be afraid to bring out their experiences…Don’t be afraid to leverage your experiences in the discussions [or] in your writing. You’re not automatons.”

Inspiration Comes From Many Directions

Many instructors list their heroes as those who inspired them to continue their journey in the world of education. Fondness grows in Gene’s eyes as he explains, “I spent twelve years in the army before the FBI. I worked with fantastic people…I still think about what [my sergeant] taught me so many years ago being a leader and a person and a man.” Yet, Gene’s inspirations don’t end at those he’s met personally. “The type of people who inspire me are the ones that continue to get up and do things,” he explains with compassion in his voice. “[Those who do] good because it’s good, not because they’re looking for likes.”

A Community of Passion & Security

Gene remains a strong part of the community of instructors who work in the criminal justice department at Rosemont College. “Being able to participate in this [program] and seeing the types of people that Kolick and Al Lopez [recruit proves that]…we’re looking for not just academic learning, but also experiential learning. We bring experiences to the program, and I think that’s the strength of this program.” He also mentions with a sense of pride in his voice, “Rosemont is a relatively small school…It supported a lot of creative needs and the passion that underpins its creation…It was wonderful to experience both as a professor and a student.” As both instructor and student communities combine to learn and explore, Rosemont College remains a strong setting for education and passion. “Rosemont has changed over the years, but it’s maintained its focus that might not be served elsewhere. That mission is essential to Rosemont’s identity.”

Finding Hope in the Future

As the country struggles forward in these trying times, colleges in every state work towards creating a new generation of supporters and protectors. From police officers to FBI agents, education prepares them for the strategies, while experience provides the compassion needed to perform these stress inducing careers. Still, with instructors like Gene Lanzillo at Rosemont College, citizens can expect justice to ring its golden bell as the newest generation of detectives and agents sprint forward to a better future we’ve all been working towards.