Welcome to a snap shot of Dr. Gala's work.
Biography:
Dr. Don Gala's written work (also found under "Drennon-Gala") has been published by primary publishers and can be found in libraries throughout the world, and he has more than 50 publications as book chapters, Op-Eds, and articles. One of Dr. Gala's books (1995, University Press of America) was used as a reference by the U.S. Senate in the National Debate Topic for High Schools, 1996-97, and was cited among 34 other scholars in the "104th Congress, 2d Session / Senate Document 104-20", Page 8 (14th pg. of Eric Document), National Debate Topic for High Schools, 1996-97, Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED404705.pdf.]. Also, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDOC-104sdoc20/pdf/CDOC-104sdoc20.pdf.
Dr. Gala's writing genre of interest includes fiction/action, mystery, short stories, and nonfiction. Dr. Gala also provides copy-writing services as well. Presently, Dr. Gala's work in progress includes a textbook for the field of corrections and articles. He also has several partial projects near a conclusion.
Dr. Gala holds a Ph.D. in a multidisciplinary field that includes Education: Thought and Policy with an emphasis in Social Contexts in Education and Criminology from the University of Rochester (NY); an M.S.Ed. in Educational Administration from the Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development (now the "Warner School of Education"); M.A. in Criminal Justice/Management and Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond, OK); B.S. in Criminal Justice from Rochester Institute of Technology, and A.A.S. in Police Science-Criminal Justice from Monroe Community College (NY, 1974). His academic performance resulted in him being inducted into Pi Gamma Mu - International Honor Society in Social Science, Alpha Phi Sigma - National Criminal Justice Honor Society, and Kappa Delta Pi - International Honor Society in Education.
As a Social Psychologist, his primary professional memberships include the American Psychological Association (APA) (Elected Member), Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI: Div. 9 - APA), Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice (SCFPP: Division 037 - APA), and Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA). He is also a member of the International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology (IACFP).
As a Criminologist, Dr. Gala is a member of the American Sociological Association (ASA), American Society of Criminology (ASC), American Evaluation Association (AEA), Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA) (Life Member), Southern Sociological Society (SSS), and Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). He is also a member of The Authors Guild, Inc. (2000-Present) (https://www.authorsguild.net/services/members/947), Correctional Accreditation Managers' Association (2015-2019 - CAMA), American Correctional Association (ACA), American Jail Association (AJA), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP), and Association of Certified Background Investigators (ACBI). Don is or has been appointed as a member of Committees for ACJS, SSSP, IACTP, and AJA, and an elected member of the Board of Directors with IACTP (until 2020). He is also on the Editorial Board of the online primary journal, Multicultural Learning and Teaching (http://www.bepress.com/mlt/editorialboard.html or http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/mlt).
In late 2010, Dr. Gala's published work and Ph.D. dissertation on social support theory in predicting an adolescent's engagement in delinquent behavior or disengagement in education or the propensity toward either was included in the Encyclopedia of Criminological Theory (Sage Publications). His introduction of social support theory involving juveniles is recognized as a major contribution to the literature in criminology.
Until 2020, Dr. Gala was the elected Director of Trainer Certification for the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP) (12-years), He was given a 2-year appointment as the Co-Chair of the Correctional Trainer Certification Commission (CTCC) in November 2011, which is administered through the American Jail Association and IACTP, and through a scheduled transition left the Commission in November 2013. Prior to November 2011, he was the Co-Vice Chair of the CTCC for 3-years. He was appointed to the Commission (CTCC) in January 2018, Also, was a Certified Correctional Trainer (Exp. 2026 - CTCC discontinued) and was a Certified Taser Instructor for 12-years until April 2018.
Dr. Gala has 8-years of adult education experience with progressive responsibilities in the positions of Lecturer, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor (5 years) in higher education. He has held these positions in the fields of Criminal Justice and Education. From 2011 to 2014, Dr. Gala held a dual appointment in Criminal Justice and Education at a college in the South-Central region in the State of Tennessee.
In April 2022, Dr. Gala returned to hold the position of Executive Director/CEO/Chief Research Consultant/Sr. Trainer for The Gala Group, Inc., a nonprofit Tennessee Corporation (pending 501(c)(3) status), which he previously held from 2008 to 2019 when it was a for-profit corporation. As a Certified Correctional Trainer (CTCC), former Certified Taser instructor (TTA), and former Certified PREA Auditor (USDOJ), Dr. Gala brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to any organization or client. Through several subject matter experts and professionals, TGG provides training (including previously approved P.O.S.T. in-service training modules), program evaluation, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and research.
Dr. Gala will continue to focus on police training use-of-force, multicultural training, communication skills, criminal investigations, and custody and non-custody interviews.
From 2019 to 2022 (APR), he was the President and Chief Research Consultant for Educational Consultants Network, Inc. (ECN) (NPO). Dr. Gala remains involved with ECN as a Board Member and will provide his guidance and research skills when requested.
Educational Consultants Network, Inc. (ECN-NPO) continues to focus on research addressing the implementation of Social Support Questionnaires to identify students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades who have the propensity toward serious violent behavior. Students identified with a low Social Support Quotient (SSQ) and a high SVB quotient will be subjected to an intervention program with a licensed Clinical Psychologist, significant adults from home, and a primary teacher.
In 2008, Dr. Gala retired from federal service after 27+ years, which included nearly 21-years of service with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, as a Federal Officer/Sr. Case Manager (with law enforcement authority pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §3050 and Tenn. Code Ann. §38-3-113; and conducted administrative investigations and fully litigated cases before the U.S. EEOC while an EEO Employee Representative - 29 C.F.R. §1614.605). He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force (4-years), U.S. Air Force Reserve (active 1980-1982), and U.S. Army, receiving an Honorable Discharge from each Branch with various accommodations and awards. He is also a Master Mason, NYS, F&AM, Clio Lodge #779, Hilton, NY (1984-pres).