Dr. Paul R. Rickert is the Area Extension Director for Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. He joined Extension from Bryan College (TN) where he was Dean of Adult and Graduate Studies & Associate Professor of Criminal Justice. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Dean (Graduate and Professional Studies), Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Program Director (for Human Services & for Criminal Justice) at LeTourneau University (Longview, TX). Before that he was Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Director of Distance Learning Programs (Helms School of Government), and Assessment Coordinator at Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia). At Liberty University he pioneered their very first bachelor's degree that was able to be completed entirely online in 2005 and directed the program as it grew from 2006-2012.
He was a police officer and deputy sheriff (full-time (1996-2004) and reserve (2004-2016)) and attended police academies in three states (VA, TX, and TN) and numerous trainings. He enjoys studying human trafficking, military operations other than war (MOOTW), peace studies, economics, governance, sociology, theology, and policy. Paul, originally from upstate-N.Y., is an avid traveler, having lived in Denmark and Hungary, he's traveled to more than 30 countries worldwide, and led 7 trips abroad with students. He is an Army veteran (1994-2000) having served in the VA ARNG 29th ID(L), 2/116th Infantry as a Scout Platoon radio operator, in Headquarters Company (TOC), and in a Line Platoon (as Fire Team Leader). He has been married to Michelle (a Cecil County, MD native) since 1996 and they have 3 children.