Meet Our Faculty

Office Location

Holliman-Fountain Education Center

(912) 583-3151

rbyrd@bpc.edu

Dr. Roger Byrd

Associate Professor of Social Sciences

Division of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Prison Program Director

Education

EdD, Valdosta University
MPA, Valdosta University
MS, Georgia Southern University
BS, Brewton-Parker College
AA, Brewton-Parker College
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Crime, Georgia Southern University
Graduate Certificate in Digital and Social Media, Kennesaw State University

Biography

I was born and raised on a farm in Jeff Davis County, near the small community of Snipesville, Georgia. I attended Union Springs Baptist Church and accepted Christ there at the age of 10. Since then I have served as a Sunday School teacher, nursery worker, puppet ministry participant, deacon, trustee of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee, member of the Georgia Baptist Education Commission, and 1st Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. I have served as pastor of Bay Springs Baptist Church since 2007.

As a confirmed life-long learner, my vocation is education. Teaching Criminal Justice and Political Science at Brewton-Parker is a joy and a privilege for me. In my educational career I have also served as Associate Dean of Adult Education, and as Manager of Continuing Education at other institutions.

Finally, I confess to being a recovering politician. I served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 22 years.

I am married to April Eason and we have one daughter, Olivia. We are all BPC alums.

I am a pretty good cook, but not a traditional one. I like to cook using Dutch ovens, especially an old chuck wagon-style. I actually own a converted 1898 Peter Schuttler wagon.

Research Interests

Corrections Education
Post-incarceration Community Re-integration
Recidivism

Professional Organizations/Memberships

Georgia Political Science Association (GPSA)
American Criminal Justice Association, Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE)
Correctional Education Association (CEA)
Georgia Civic Affairs Foundation

Favorite Classes Taught at BPC

CJ 205 – Introduction to Police Administration
CJ 305 – Race and Ethnic Relations
CJ 412 – Criminology
CJ 425 – Victimology
POL 309 – State and Local Government
POL 420 – Public Administration

"For perhaps he was for this reason separated [from you] for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord."

Scholarly Work & Publications

“Sisyphus No More: The Case for Corrections Education”, Book (2019)

“Throwing Away the Key: A New Perspective for Corrections Policy in The United States”, Research Paper, Georgia Political Science Association, Savannah, GA (2018)

“Children of Sisyphus: The Challenges of Societal Acceptance of Ex-Offenders”, Research Paper, Georgia Political Science Association, Savannah, GA (2017)

“College Education Inside: Creating Opportunities for Offenders”, The Corrections Education Association Annual Conference, Research Paper, San Antonio, TX (2017)

“Education and Recidivism: Everything Has a Price”, Research Paper, Georgia Political Science Association, Savannah, GA (2016)