Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
EmailDirect Office Phone: 423-775-2041
Field of Study: Criminal Justice
Office: Criminal Justice Department
Dr. Neil Harper teaches courses related to criminal justice. His areas of interest include preparing current and future law enforcement officers to engage in the public square from a Christian worldview. Dr. Harper is passionate about developing future leaders and enjoys teaching courses on leadership, justice administration, law enforcement, criminal investigations, forensic science, and ethics in the criminal justice system.
With a background as a former deputy sheriff, police officer, investigator, military police officer, ATF Special Agent, and ministry leader, Dr. Harper brings real-world experiences to the classroom, enhancing students’ learning and understanding of the criminal justice system at all levels. He incorporates experiences and related case studies into class discussions and active learning assignments. Dr. Harper retired as an ATF Senior Special Agent in 2019 and a U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel in 2016. He and his wife have been married for over 30 years and reside in Cleveland, Tennessee.
After retiring from ATF, Dr. Harper served full-time in ministry as an Assistant Pastor for Educational Ministries and then as the President & CEO of Leadership Ministries Worldwide (LMW) in Chattanooga. Dr. Harper now serves as an assistant pastor at Westwood Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee, where his wife serves as the Preschool Director. He also remains engaged with the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO), an organization he has been a member of for over 20 years.
After retiring from law enforcement, I was on staff at a church and passionate about educational ministries. I also taught as an adjunct in criminal justice at several universities. Although I initially thought my calling was to revitalize and re-plant churches, it became clear that God was calling me to the Christian teaching ministry in higher education. After applying and meeting several of the faculty, I began teaching at Bryan College in the Fall of 2022. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to educate criminal justice and forensic science students from a Christian perspective to become servants of Christ in the criminal justice system.
— Dr. Neil Harper
Criminal Justice Teaching Fellow | criminal justice |
721 Bryan Drive, Dayton, TN 37321
Bryan College is a small, regionally accredited Christian liberal arts college located in Dayton, TN. With both on-campus and online programs, more than 50 areas of study are offered for Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees, as well as professional certificates.
Founded in 1930, Bryan College has a rich legacy of educating students to become servants of Christ and make a difference in today’s world.
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