Administration

Director

Mike Bassi

Director Mike Bassi oversees all aspects of the Institute's operations and strategic vision. He is a faculty member in the Administrative Officer’s Course, teaching “Police Administration” and instructs in the Department of Criminal Justice at UofL.

Mike has over 25 years of police practitioner experience, culminating as Commander of the Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy and Director of the Regional Public Safety Training Center, in Reno, NV. He honorably retired with 21 years of sworn service with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. During his time in law enforcement, he had a varied career, that spanned everything from SWAT to Marine Patrol on Lake Tahoe. He spent time in Detectives, Patrol, Corrections and Training. He was fortunate to be in leadership and command roles in a variety of assignments.

In addition to the University of Louisville, Mike has held adjunct faculty roles at both Western Nevada College and Truckee Meadows Community College. 

While still in police command, Mike graduated from the Administrative Officer’s Course. This experience helped fuel his dedication to directing SPI to be the bridge between academic and practitioner with knowledge and research, turned to action and strategy.

Director Bassi is a current board member on the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council and also served as Vice-Chair of the Washoe County Emergency Response Advisory Committee and as a Board Member for the Trauma Intervention Program of Northern Nevada.

A proud third-generation U.S. Marine, Mike served as a Military Police Officer in CONUS and overseas assignments.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude in Social and Criminal Justice from Ashford University, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Louisville.

Contact Information:

Office Number: 502-852-0332
Office: McCandless Hall, Room 201

Associate Director

Dennis Hippert, Ph.D. 

Dr. Dennis Hippert is the Associate Director at the Southern Police Institute.  In this role, he is responsible for the management of the continuing education curriculum offered through the institute, including course review and updates, new course development, and faculty management.  He also manages technical assistance, consulting projects, and the daily operations of the staff.

Dennis retired at the rank of captain from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in Reno, Nevada after 22 years of service.  His comprehensive career includes experience in detention, patrol, courts, and traffic enforcement, and he previously served as the Director of the Northern Nevada Regional Intelligence Center.  As an instructor, Dennis engaged students in both academic programs and practical applications in topics of police practice, Evidence-Based Policing, and leadership development.

A graduate of the 141st Administrative Officers Course, Dennis holds a PhD in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, along with a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisville.

Contact Information:

Office Number: 502-852-0328
Office: McCandless Hall, Room 204


Course Coordinator

Photo of staff

Barry L. Madden

Barry L. Madden is currently the Continuing Education Course Coordinator at the Southern Police Institute.  In this position, he manages and coordinates the SPI training courses hosted in the Louisville metropolitan area.  Mr. Madden has over 25 years of law enforcement experience with the Louisville Division of Police and the Louisville Metro Police Department.  His background includes a variety of assignments in patrol, investigations, and administration.  He most recently served as the Executive Officer for the Patrol Bureau. 

Mr. Madden received a Bachelor of Science in Police Administration and a Master of Science in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville.  He also is a graduate of the 100th Administrative Officers Course (AOC) offered by the Southern Police Institute and received a Certificate in Police Executive Leadership Development. 

Contact Information:

Office Number: 502-852-8889
Office: McCandless Hall, Room 206

Administrative Assistant: Administrative Officers Course & SPI Business Manager

Mary Evans

Mary Evans is currently an Administrative Assistant for the Southern Police Institute.  In her position she coordinators the Administrative Officers Course, Continuing Education registration, instructors travel reimbursements, handles deposit and payments.  Mary has been with the University of Louisville for 46 years and started at Southern Police Institute during the 62nd AOC.

Mary has two sons and three grandchildren that keeps her busy when not working.

Contact Information:

Office Number: 502-852-0334
Office: McCandless Hall, Room 208A
Click here to email Mary Evans

Program Coordinator: Command Officers Development Course and Continuing Education Courses Coordinator

Theresa Newton

Theresa M. Newton is currently the Continuing Education Program Coordinator at the Southern Police Institute. In this position, she coordinates and develops the inquiries received for our Continuing Education training courses hosted locally, out-of-state, and abroad to build our course schedule from year to year. She receives and processes all CE Transcript requests, develops all the CE instructor contracts, and coordinates two Command Officer Development Course (CODC) banquets each year.

Ms. Newton has worked at SPI for 24 years. Through almost half of those years, she organized all the travel, coordinated advertising, and performed record-keeping for the CE courses in addition to her current duties. She also worked for the Southern Police Institute Alumni Association processing membership applications, attending conferences, and selling SPIAA merchandise.

Ms. Newton received a Diploma from Spencerian College for having completed a Course of Study in Private Secretary.

Contact Information:

Office Number: 502-852-0333
Office: McCandless Hall, Room 203
Click here to email Theresa Newton

Coordinator of Publications and Marketing

Angela Campbell

As the Coordinator of Publications and Marketing at the Southern Police Institute, Angela Campbell oversees all aspects of marketing for SPI and the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Louisville.  In her role for the Institute, she designs and creates ads in email marketing campaigns, print, and digital formats and places them to reach individuals who may be interested in attending training courses at SPI.  In addition to creating marketing materials, she manages both the SPI and CJ websites and social media accounts to help increase exposure.

Mrs. Campbell received an Associate in Applied Science Commercial Photography degree from Jefferson Community and Technical College in 2005 and then continued her education in the field. She began working at SPI in 2012 and uses skills gained through experience to help raise the profile of the Institute.

Contact Information:

Office Number: (502) 852-8577
Office: McCandless Hall, Room 207

Senior Program Coordinator

Khadija Shojae

Khadija Shojae graduated from the Afghan National Police (ANP) academy in Kabul in 2002 with the goal and desire to create positive change for her former country by increasing the numbers of women police in Afghanistan. She was assigned to assist in recruiting more women into the ANP. She served as Gender Analyst in the Gender Department of Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior (MOI) from 2008-2010, where she was responsible for analyzing and assessing gender issues in the MOI. From 2010-2011, she was assigned as an Intelligence Analyst in the Intelligence Department of the MOI. In end of 2011, she was given an opportunity to train with the US Army in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. She was also selected as a recipient of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) 2011 International Recognition Scholarship in Lexington, KY, where she attended the conference and spoke to nearly 600 conference participants from over 50 countries.

Since 2014, she is employed by the Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Kabul Education University in 2007 and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Louisville in 2022.

Contact Information:

Office Number: 502-852-8923
Office: McCandless Hall, Room 202
Click here to email Khadija Shojae

Tier One Tech Support

James Jenkins

James D Jenkins is a Tech Specialist/Tier 1 who provides information technology services for the staff, faculty, and students of the Department of Criminal Justice and Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville. He has been employed at the university since May of 2014.

James in a veteran and served in the United States Marine Corps as an Engineer Equipment Operator attached to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion - 2nd Marine Division.

James received an Associates in Science Degree with a major in Computer Information Systems in 2014 from the Jefferson Community and Technical College where he graduated with honors.

James currently holds several certifications in the Information Technology field including A+, Computer Support Technician, Computer Tech Basic, Computer Technician, Network +, Productivity Software Specialist, Security +, as well as receiving the Cyber Security Practitioner and Design Thinking Badge from IBM.

James volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America for over 7 years where he served in various unit, district and council level positions. During this time, he attend a leadership development course Wood badge, and a Wilderness Remote First Aid where he received certification in advanced first aid and CPR. 

James is currently continuing his education and is enrolled at the University of Louisville in the Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a member of University of Louisville Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon.

Contact Information:

Office Number: 502-852-0064
Office: Brigman Hall, Room 220