Dr. Randy Garner is a Professor of Behavioral Sciences and former Associate Dean in the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University. He holds a B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. in Psychology, with specialization in the area of Social Psychology, and a doctoral minor in Organizational Behavior and Management. Additionally, Dr. Garner has a (second) Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies. Dr. Garner was the founding Director of the Texas Regional Community Policing Institute (TRCPI) and served as the Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) before his appointment as Associate Dean. Prior to coming to SHSU, Dr. Garner was the Associate Director of Behavioral Medicine at the University of Houston.

Dr. Garner has received numerous academic awards and honors including the Excellence in Educational Instruction award in 2006, the University of Houston's 2005-2006 Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor the association and the University can bestow upon an alumnus, and the Social Psychologist in Texas award in 2004.

Dr. Garner has authored numerous books and professional publications with particular emphasis in the areas of social influence, persuasion, and leadership. Additionally, Dr. Garner is the Editor-in-Chief of Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, academic journal that examines the social and psychological aspects of human behavior as related to applied societal and criminal justice settings.

Prior to moving into academia, Dr. Garner began his more than 30 years of law enforcement service in 1976. He has worked in all divisions and levels of command and was appointed as the Chief of Police for a Houston-area agency in the mid 1980's where he was active in a variety of national, state, and local law enforcement organizations. Dr. Garner has taught with or is a graduate of all of the major police command colleges in the country, including the F.B.I. National Academy, the Graduate Management Institute, the Leadership and Command College (LEMIT), the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, and the Southern Police Institute (University of Louisville).

Dr. Garner remains active in a number of community service organizations and serves on various civic boards and committees. Professional affiliations include the Social Psychologists in Texas, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the American Psychological Association. In his spare time, Dr. Garner is an Instrument-rated Commercial Pilot and is an FAA Certified Flight Instructor.