Distinguished Alumni

The Department of Justice Studies recognizes alumni who after graduating excelled in life, achieving distinction and enhancing the reputation of the Department through their exemplary career, contributions to their field, and/or contributions to the Department.

Roster of Distinguished Alumni 

Rosa Vega - B.S. Administration of Justice 2000

Rosa Vega received her Master's of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Forensic Science Administration from Loyola University New Orleans and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Administration of Justice with a minor in Physical Anthropology from San Jose State University. Rosa is a Diplomate Registered Death Investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. In September 2022, she was appointed as the Coroner for a well-established and reputable California Coroner's Office. Rosa is dedicated and passionate about the Medicolegal field. She is an experienced Investigator who has personally investigated over 3,000 deaths including mass shootings, airplane accidents, child deaths, and homicides. In 2017 Rosa was awarded San Jose State University's Department of Justice Studies Distinguished Alumni award.

Samantha Peek - B.S Forensic Science 

Samantha Peek is a San Jose State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science Concentration in Chemistry. She obtained her Master's Degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University. She completed an internship with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives researching explosives and fire debris analysis. She later worked as a Lab Assistant for the Santa Clara County Crime Lab.

Currently, she is the Chief Executive Officer and a Certified Fire Investigator for her company, Fire Investigation Industries, where she completes fire investigations, conducts training for law enforcement and fire departments, and researches fire and explosives. She has been a fire investigator for 9 years and has conducted over 400 fire investigations. She is currently teaching as a lecturer at San Jose State University. 

Virginia Montelongo, BS., M.S. Criminal Justice

Virginia Montelongo is a lecturer in the Department of Justice Studies. She is a native of San Jose City, was a field worker in our "Valley of Heart's Delights," and lived with and through many of the changes that have occurred in Santa Clara County. Virginia is an alumnus of San Jose State University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Criminal Justice (with an emphasis on Female Offenders). She is a lecturer in the Justice Studies Department. She is also an Associate Faculty at Evergreen Valley College (EVC) in the Administration of Justice Department for the past thirteen years.  While at EVC, she created the curriculum for three classes she teaches "Women and the Criminal Justice System" and “Probation, Parole, and Intermediate Sanctions.” The third class she created is “ Introduction to Public Safety Community Service Officer,”  which is part of a statewide four-course Badge Certificate, “ Certificate of Achievement in Community Service Officer.” Virginia is a retired Santa Clara County Deputy Probation Officer with 29 ½ years of service. She supervised juveniles and adults in controlled environments and the community. She created and taught an 8-hour certified course, “Female Offenders,” for the Probation Department for Probation staff to gain an understanding of the gender-responsive services and needs of female offenders. Virginia also held the assignment of Court Officer in the Proposition 36 Drug Court. She gets satisfaction from teaching students how to be responsible and contribute to society. She encourages all students to use “Each One, Teach One,” an African proverb that teaches lifting each other.  Her motto is “Never forget where you come from, and give back to your community.”  

Dina Kameda, M.S., J.D.

Susie Rivera, M.S., J.D.

Sheree Martinek, M.S., M.P.A.

Kenneth Kwok, M.S. Justice Studies

Kenneth Kwok graduated with a Master’s in Justice Studies in 2006.  He joined the Fremont Police Department right after graduation and has been with the department for 18 years. Kenneth attended the San Jose Police Department Academy as an “allied agency” and graduated in the winter of 2006.  His collateral assignments as an officer included Field Training Officer (FTO- 9 years), SWAT Technology Officer (9 years), Crime Scene Investigator (CSI- 5 years), Detective (1 year of financial crimes, 2 years as sexual assault/child abuse), Defensive Tactics instructor, explorer advisor (5 years), and peer mentor.  In 2016, he was one of the department’s first UAV pilots. 

In 2019, Kenneth was promoted to sergeant, and he is currently assigned to the Professional Standards and Accountability unit.He is also the Special Investigator to Chief Sean Washington (another SJSU J.S. Alumni) and the supervisor of the UAV unit. Kenneth helped implement an experimental program known as Drone as First Responder (DFR), making the City of Fremont the only city to have a joint Public Safety Drone Program.

Eric Kwong, B.S. Forensic Science 

Eric Kwong is a lecturer teaching Forensic Science Applications and Crime Scene and Evidence Photography. He graduated San Jose State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Science and later earned his Master's Degree in Forensic Science at the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.

2018

Hon. Robert Rigsby - BS 1983, Criminal Justice Administration

2016

Scott Reese - B.S. 1993

2015

Chief Ruben Chavez - B.S. 1992, M.S. 2009

2014

Chief Larry Esquivel - B.S. 1993

2012

Mario Fausto - B.S. 1995

2011

Cary Heck - Ph.D., M.S. 1994

2010

Phillip Carr - M.S. 1991

2009

Harry Mullins - Ph.D., B.S. 1969

2008

Janet Hagemann - M.S. 1981

2007

Edward Flores - B.S. 1991

2006

John Salazar - B.S. 1980

2005

Jess Guy - B.S. 1970, M.S. 1989

2004

John Marlo - B.S. 1956

2003

William Nay - B.S. 1977, MS 1988

2002

Scott MacDonald - B.S. 1995

2001

Sheriff Laurie Smith - B.S. 1993* 

^{*Faculty voted on February 25, 2022 to rescind the Distinguished Alumni award (2001) to this individual because she diminished her reputation through her actions and failed to uphold her distinction as an outstanding alumni.}

2000

Robert Conroy - B.S. 1991

1999

Chief William Lansdowne - B.S. 1973

1998

Lucy Carlton - B.S. 1979

1997

Chief Pamela Roskowski - B.S. 1975

1996

Shi-Si Yuen

1995

Christopher Darden - B.S. 1977

(Award Created in 1995)