Biography
Biography
Dr. Ross Wolf is Interim Dean of the College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE) at the University of Central Florida. In addition to this role, he also serves as a Professor in UCF’s Department of Criminal Justice, and as a Visiting Professor with the Institute for Public Safety, Crime, and Justice at the University of Northampton (United Kingdom), Visiting Scholar and advisory board member with the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Virginia, and Senior Research Associate at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaysia).
Dr. Wolf has over 30 years of experience in higher education, having previously served as a university director of alumni relations, university coordinator of new student orientation, undergraduate program coordinator, graduate program coordinator, doctoral program director and associate dean. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles, professional articles, books and book chapters on campus law enforcement, police administration and management, volunteer policing, police use of force, tourism policing, and international policing.
As CCIE’s interim chief academic, administrative and fiscal officer, Dr. Wolf oversees nine academic units and 11 centers and institutes on the university’s main campus and the UCF Downtown campus. He is responsible for establishing public and private partnerships that help optimize the workforce pipeline in Central Florida by providing students with real-world experiences that position them for successful careers.
Dr. Wolf previously served as interim assistant vice provost and later associate provost for UCF Downtown, where he led in advancing academic excellence and innovation since April 2019. He has been instrumental in the implementation and operation of the downtown campus, which is a collaboration with Valencia College. His important work in leading UCF Downtown continues in his role as interim dean.
- Community Engagement
- Volunteerism
- Comparative Policing
- Police Administration
Ed.D., Higher Education, University of Central Florida
M.P.A., Public Administration, University of Central Florida
CHPP, Certified Homeland Protection Professional
CVPL, Certified Volunteer Policing Leader
Research
Dr. Wolf has published over eighty peer-reviewed articles, professional articles, books, and book chapters on campus law enforcement, police administration and management, volunteer policing, police use of force, tourism policing, and international policing. In addition to his experience in academe, Dr. Wolf also has over thirty years of full-time and reserve experience as a law enforcement officer. He has worked not only with policing agencies in the United States, but with the police in Aruba, Dubai, Estonia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, St. Lucia, and the United Kingdom.
Because of his expertise in police administration and international comparative policing, he has been appointed to and serves as an Executive Board Member of the International Managers of Police Academy and College Training (IMPACT) Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). He also serves on the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) Reserve Law Enforcement Officer Working Group and Outreach Committee and as a member of the board of directors of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance (VLEOA). In addition to other awards and recognitions, he has received the United States Presidential “Lifetime Call to Service Award,” the "Daily Point of Light" Award, the American Police Hall of Fame "J. Edgar Hoover Memorial Gold Medal for Distinguished Public Service” and the National Sheriffs' Association "Medal of Merit."
- Campus law enforcement
- Police administration and management
- Volunteer policing
- Tourism policing
- International comparative policing
University of Northampton, England, UK: Institute for Public Safety, Crime, and Justice
Awards
- United States Presidential “Daily Point of Light” Award (September 12, 2014)
- United States President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation “Lifetime Call to Service Award” (2011) and the “President's Volunteer Service Award” (2012-17, 2004 – 2010)
- UCF College of Health and Public Affairs “Faculty Excellence Alumni” award (2016)
- UCF College of Health and Public Affairs “Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching” award (2012, 2003)
- University of Central Florida “Teaching Incentive Program” Award (2013-14, 08-09, 03-04)
- UCF College of Health and Public Affairs “Excellence in Professional Service” award (2010, 2008, 2004)
- University of Central Florida “Excellence in Professional Service” award (2010)
- UCF College of Health and Public Affairs “Research Initiative Award” (2007)
- University of Central Florida “Teaching Faculty Leadership Award” (2006)
- University of Central Florida “Excellence in Faculty Advising” award (2004)
- UCF College of Health and Public Affairs “Excellence in Faculty Advising” award (2004, 2002)