Challenge - Winter 2007/2008 - Tiffin University

prison consultant to Haiti, and now, when
many should be satisfied, he connects with
a leadership position in Iraq to rebuild and
reform the Iraqi prison system.”
This is a one-year old little boy who was
with his aunt who is an employee of the Iraq
Corrections Service Central Office staff. The
little boy came to work with his aunt. Many
parents and relatives regularly bring children
to work with them especially if the child is
sick or without a sitter.
school experience. “From the first class I
ever saw Ron in, I sensed a zest for learning
and an interest in almost everything,”
Haley says. “He was always inquisitive in
class discussions and considerate in trying
to understand the view points of fellow
students and faculty members.”
Haley adds, “Ron provides an example for
the entire TU community of being both a
leader and humanitarian through his Ohio
career as a corrections executive, U.S.
Edwards says he hopes that the people
of Iraq can soon enjoy the many freedoms
that Americans enjoy. “We have an
amazing quality of life in the United States.
Many Iraqis will never have an opportunity
to appreciate the freedoms we take
for granted in America. The future of Iraq
depends on how the government of Iraq
can overcome the past 35 years of tyranny
and dictatorship,” he comments. “The effects
of oppression are still prevalent in Iraq
today, and I believe, that with the current
work of the United States and its coalition
partners, Iraq will have an opportunity
to rebuild and harness its strong natural
resources to become an independent
country with a democratic government.”
He adds, “I am proud to say that we are
developing an unprecedented criminal
justice system in Iraq that will have a
strong police presence, a fair and impartial
judicial system, and a safe, secure and
humane correctional system.”
Haley says of his former student, “At
the base of TU’s new educational brand
Ron is kneeling with a small Iraqi girl who
is wearing a colorful dress. She was with a
relative and Ron gave her a “pop tart”. “There
are thousands of beautiful children who you
see walking by themselves on streets,” said
Ron. This little girl was not shy and did not
speak English.
promise is ‘real connections’ to the field of
criminal justice practice. I think in the
case of Ron Edwards’ leadership and
humanitarian service in Iraq, it truly does
not get any more real than that. As you
get to know him, you realize the breadth
of his multivalent personality: corrections
leader and executive; military leader in
the Ohio National Guard, musician, scholar,
humanitarian, father, and husband.
Mrs. Edwards would sometimes come to
classes as well.”
Ron is standing at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shield outside of Baghdad. FOB Shield is located adjacent
to the Rusafa Prison Complex, this complex is the largest prison complex in Iraq; it has 13 separate
prisons inside a massive complex.
Edwards says he had a “wonderful
experience” during his graduate work
at Tiffin University. “I was able to publish
criminal justice research, co-author
the book Strange but Real: Perspectives
on Odd Issues in Criminal Justice with
Professor Haley, study abroad in India,
and deliver a Commencement Address as
the 2007 Criminal Justice Student of the
Year,” he says. “I will always be indebted
to Tiffin University for offering me a
world-class graduate education.”
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