Dr. Zakir Gul

Professor & Chair of Criminal Justice

Dr. Zakir Gul is Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at SUNY Plattsburgh and the recipient of the 2026 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest system-wide recognition for teaching excellence. His teaching and research focus on policing, terrorism and counterterrorism, intelligence studies, homeland security, cybercrime, digital forensics, and transnational crime.

His scholarship examines terrorism and counterterrorism, preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), security intelligence, intelligence-led policing, police use of force, and police occupational stress, with an emphasis on translating research into effective policy, practice, and criminal justice education.

Dr. Gul’s teaching integrates academic scholarship with professional practice to create engaging, inclusive, and experiential learning environments that encourage critical thinking, ethical leadership, and career readiness, an approach recognized with SUNY’s highest honor for teaching excellence.

Since becoming department chair in January 2021, Dr. Gul has led numerous academic and programmatic initiatives that have expanded opportunities for students and strengthened the Department of Criminal Justice. He has overseen curriculum revisions, developed innovative academic programs, expanded experiential learning opportunities, and strengthened partnerships with criminal justice agencies, public safety organizations, and community organizations. He is committed to advancing interdisciplinary education and preparing the next generation of criminal justice professionals.

Committed to preparing students for contemporary careers in criminal justice, Dr. Gul has expanded interdisciplinary forensic education at SUNY Plattsburgh. He established the forensics and digital forensics minors and contributed to the development of the forensic psychology and forensic accounting minors. His leadership has fostered collaboration across departments while expanding internship opportunities, experiential learning, and career preparation for students.

Dr. Gul has also been a leading advocate for advancing College in Prison initiatives at SUNY Plattsburgh, helping to shape institutional discussions and planning efforts to expand higher education opportunities within correctional settings. Drawing on his expertise in criminal justice and his commitment to educational equity, he continues to support innovative approaches to justice-impacted education.

Before entering academia, Dr. Gul served for more than 16 years with the Turkish National Police, including as police chief in two provinces affected by terrorism. His professional experience continues to inform his teaching, scholarship, and public engagement. Prior to joining SUNY Plattsburgh, he founded the English-language International Security Graduate Program at the Security Sciences Institute in Türkiye, where he served as founding director and professor. He was also affiliated with several research centers, including the Intelligence Studies Research Center and the Center for International Terrorism and Transnational Crime.

Since 2010, Dr. Gul has taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses in criminal justice, policing, intelligence studies, homeland security, terrorism and counterterrorism, cybercrime, and related fields. In addition to his university teaching, he serves as an instructor at the Zone 9 Police Academy in Plattsburgh, where he provides professional education to law enforcement officers. He has also delivered professional education and training for international law enforcement and security organizations, including the Kosovo Police, Afghan National Police, and Sudanese Security Forces, on topics such as strategic intelligence, leadership, policing, counterterrorism, and stress management.

Outside of academia, Dr. Gul enjoys spending time with his family and playing the Turkish stringed instrument bağlama (saz).