About John Shaw

  • Psychology Professor
  • Former Public Defender
  • Neophyte Author
  • Proud Father and Husband 
  • Old Enough to Remember Rotary Phones
  • Young Enough to Know That I’m Too Old for Tok Tok

As a psychology professor and former public defender, John Shaw brings a wide range of expertise The Yellowstone Directive and Death by DNA. John resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his wife Carolyn and their two children, Carson and Kendall.

Education

  • Ph.D. – University of California, Los Angeles (1994) — Social Psychology
  • M.A. – University of California, Los Angeles (1990) — Social Psychology
  • J.D. – Stanford Law School (1980)
  • B.A. – Vanderbilt University (1977) —  Majors: Latin and Economics

Academic Positions

Lafayette College (1997 to the present)

  • Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
  • Department Head, Department of Psychology

University of Texas at El Paso (1994 to 1997)

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Criminal Justice Program

 University of California, Los Angeles (1989-1994)

  • Teaching Associate
  • Research Advisor for Undergraduate Researchers

Office of the Public Defender of Los Angeles (1982-1989)

Deputy Public Defender IV – As a criminal defense attorney, handled several thousand criminal cases. Completed over 100 jury trials including numerous serious felonies such as rape and murder. For the last two and a half years personally trained approximately 160 new deputy public defenders. Frequently lectured on a variety of criminal law topics at departmental training meetings.

Office of the City Attorney of Los Angeles (1980-1982)

Criminal Prosecutor – Prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases for the City of Los Angeles.

Honors and Awards

  • Faculty Member of the Year (Awarded by Order of Omega (Lafayette College, 2015)  
  • Student Government Superior Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2012)
  • Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2012)
  • Student Government Superior Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2009)
  • Student Government Superior Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2008)
  • Crawford Award for Outstanding Classroom Instruction (Lafayette College, 2007)
  • Student Government Superior Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2007)
  • Marquis Distinguished Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2006)
  • Student Government Superior Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2006)
  • Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Lecture Award (Lafayette College, 2002)
  • Student Government Superior Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 2002)
  • Student Government Superior Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 1999)
  • Theta Chi Board of Governors Teaching Award (Lafayette College, 1999)
  • Shepherd Franz Distinguished Teaching Award (UCLA, 1994)