Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology Online

Program Instructors include:

Sobhya Agha is an adjunct faculty at the Department of Homeland Security at San Diego State University. She completed her bachelor’s degree in computer science, a master’s in criminology, and a master’s in homeland security. Agha worked as a project officer in Pakistan with the police department's “Prevention of Honor Killings and Violence against Women” project, funded by the United Nations Development Program, UK Aid, and the United Nations Office for Project Services. She managed 23 district human-rights cells and their officers, carrying out capacity-building training of police personnel; conducting public awareness campaigns; and, along with local police, intervening to protect honor killing, rape, and domestic violence victims. During that time, the project saved 27 potential victims of honor killings. In 2016, she completed terrorism and homeland security specialist training from the California Specialized Training Institute; and received the Amy K. Christensen Outstanding Diplomacy Security Award. Agha is a member of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Crises Mappers (International Humanitarian Technology Network), Women in International Security (WIIS), Ocean Beach Women’s Club (OBWC), Arts Council of Pakistan, and International Sindhi Women Organisation. Agha can read, write and speak Sindhi, English, and Urdu; speak Hindi; and read, write, and comprehend Arabic. She will teach Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Counter-Terrorism.

Anthony Ewing holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from California State University-Sacramento; a master’s degree in criminal justice from Kaplan University, and recently began doctoral studies in forensic psychology at Walden University. He worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as a correctional officer and parole agent, and is a Certified POST Academy instructor, specializing in crisis intervention and mental health behaviors. Ewing teaches criminal justice courses at Kaplan/Brightwood College. He will co-teach Correctional and Police Psychology.

Dr. Melissa Kastner-Treisman obtained her doctorate degree in clinical forensic psychology (Psy.D.) from Alliant International University. She has worked in a variety of clinical and forensic psychiatric settings including Vista Balboa Crisis Center, Richard Donovan Prison, and Juvenile Hall (Juvenile Forensic Services). She additionally published a dissertation regarding police psychological screening measures and has spoken in invited lectures regarding correctional and police psychology. Currently, Dr. Kastner-Treisman works for a private forensic psychologist in San Diego as a psychological assistant performing a variety of psychological assessments for criminal and clinical cases. She will co-teach Correctional and Police Psychology.

Dr. Jessica Mueller received her doctorate degree in clinical forensic psychology (Psy.D.) from Alliant International University, San Diego, where she received the Outstanding Doctor of Psychology Award. She has presented at several conferences and lectured on methods of terrorist recruitment and online radicalization as well as emotional response following acts of terrorism. Her other research interests include cyberpsychology — specifically the impact of social media and internet use on mental health. She currently works for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). She will teach Cyber Psychology.

Captain Michael Owen is a veteran whose decorations include the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device, Navy Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He is the president and executive director of VETality Corp., a nonprofit organization based out of San Diego, Calif., dedicated to educating, training, and assisting in the employment of veterans nationwide. Owen is currently pursuing a doctorate in strategic security (D.S.S.) through National Security Policy Studies. He will teach Active Shooter and Psychological Challenges.

Sara Roldan, manager of the Forensic Lab at San Diego State University, holds an M.S. in Homeland Security from SDSU, with the focus of her studies on inclusion and mental health. In addition to being an inclusion advocate, she has taught a wide variety of classes including psychology, multicultural treatment, developmental psychopathology, and special education. She is the co-founder and director of intercultural communication at the Palimpsest Aurora Consortium in San Diego, whose mission is to “mitigate the strain of mental illness and to enhance community policing through improved communication with disabled and minority populations.” She is currently pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her research includes perceived barriers to traveling abroad, culture shock and reverse culture shock, and factors influencing bias and inclusion in various settings. The unifying themes across her career are inclusion, intercultural communication, mental health, and resiliency. Roldan is faculty co-director of the program and will co-teach Introduction to Forensic Psychology and Introduction to Mental Health​.

Dr. Katherine Turner is the director of Resilience, Training, and Interventions for Countering Violence, Homeland Security Projects. She is also a co-founder and director of the Palimpsest Aurora Consortium, whose mission is to educate and train law enforcement personnel and the public to mitigate the strain of mental illness, disabilities, and minority status on community policing. Dr. Turner has taught a wide variety of classes including introduction to forensics, clinical psychology, multicultural treatment, and developmental psychopathology, and has won awards for both outstanding teaching and advising. She is faculty co-director of the program and will co-teach Introduction to Forensic Psychology and Introduction to Mental Health.