Paul E Sylvestre (he/him)


Professor College of Arts & Sciences Social Sciences Providence

Biography and Expertise

Paul Sylvestre joined Johnson & Wales in 2011 as an assistant professor of Criminal Justice. Prof. Sylvestre comes to Johnson & Wales after serving as an adjunct instructor of Criminal Justice at Bristol Community College since 2009. Prof. Sylvestre also worked as an adjunct instructor in Criminal Justice at Bay State College in Boston.

Prior to joining academia, Prof. Sylvestre served on the Pawtucket Police Department in Rhode Island for 22 years, spending three years as a patrol officer before becoming a detective assigned to the narcotics unit during which time he worked in an undercover capacity for approximately two and a half years, making purchases of narcotics such as cocaine, crack, marijuana, heroin, LSD and various controlled prescription drugs not only in the city of Pawtucket but also in the surrounding communities of Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln, as well as other cities and towns throughout the State of Rhode Island. While working as a detective in the narcotics unit, Prof. Sylvestre was a member of the National Narcotics Officers Association and became recognized as an expert witness in narcotics investigations in both state and federal courts in Rhode Island. Prof. Sylvestre also worked as a narcotics detection canine handler.

Prof. Sylvestre has presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and Northeastern Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences on issues relating to cumulative stress in policing.

Education

PhD
Salve Regina University

MS
Salve Regina University

Associate of Science
Roger Williams University

BA
Rhode Island College

Hazing Prevention 101 Course – College Edition 2022
Johnson & Wales University

Protecting Children: Identifying and Reporting Sexual Misconduct
EduRisk

Protecting Children: Identifying and Reporting Sexual Misconduct
EduRisk United Educators

Hazing Prevention 101 Course – College Edition 2021
Johnson & Wales University

Hazing Prevention 101 Course – College Edition 2020
Johnson & Wales University

Hazing Prevention 101 Course – College Edition
Johnson & Wales University

Back Safety
Johnson & Wales University

Bloodborne Pathogens for All Employees
Johnson & Wales University

Emergency Management Plan Training
Johnson & Wales University

Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls
Johnson & Wales University

Workplace Ergonomics
Johnson & Wales University

Fire Safety Training
Johnson & Wales University

Hazing Prevention 101
Johnson & Wales University

Promoting “Fair and Impartial Policing” Through the Understanding of Implicit Bias
Roger Williams University Justice System Training and Research Institute

JWU101: One University – Four Campuses
Johnson & Wales University

Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program
Johnson & Wales University

Teaching Excellence Program
Johnson & Wales University

2016-17 Teacher of the Year
John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences

Nomination for Demonstrating Civility
Student Conduct

Faculty Industry Expertise Video Request (Internet)
Johnson & Wales University Institutional and Advancement Marketing
July 13, 2023
https://jwu.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000Qos7qUjh9D4/G0000kwiqmSAetAg/videos-Faculty-PVD

Faculty Feature: Paul Sylvestre, Ph.D. (Internet)
Johnson & Wales University Internal Communication
October 28, 2022
https://youtu.be/ObflB1YIAo0

Paul Sylvestre: A Positive Force for JWU (Internet)
Johnson & Wales University News
May 24, 2019
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2019/05/paul-sylvestre-a-positive-force-for-jwu.html

New 911 Technology, Wireless Direct, Being Used in Massachusetts (TV)
Channel 10/ WJAR News
October 1, 2018
https://turnto10.com/i-team/nbc-10-i-team-911-upgrades-come-to-massachusetts-but-not-ri

Johnson & Wales Faculty Spotlight: Paul Sylvestre // Criminal Justice Department Chair (Internet)
Johnson & Wales University Internal Communication
December 14, 2017
https://youtu.be/UW_E3AjZT20

Johnson & Wales Criminal Justice: Why Johnson & Wales? (Internet)
Johnson & Wales University / Internal Communications
December 5, 2017
https://youtu.be/RLyvRimp-lI

American Society of Criminology

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences

International Association of Chiefs of Police

Sylvestre, P.
Addressing mental health, police work
Providence Journal
13A

Sylvestre, P.
Society’s Automaton: An Existential Perspective on Police Training and Stress Management Education
ProQuest

Against the Current: Bringing Service-Learning to Life at JWU
Panel Presentation
2025 University Scholarship & Best Practices Expo
JWU Center for Teaching & Learning
JWU Harborside Campus
Providence
RI
United States

Upper-level Learning Communities: Creating “better students, better career professionals, and better people.”
Poster
Atlantic Center for Learning Communities Curriculum Planning Retreat/Conference
Atlantic Center for Learning Communities
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center
West Hartford
CT
United States

Learning Communities at JWU: Opportunities for Collaboration
Oral Presentation
JWU 2024 University Scholarship & Best Practices Expo
JWU Center for Teaching & Learning
JWU Harborside Campus
Providence
RI
United States

The Elephant In the Room Mental Health Issues in Policing
Panel Presentation
Criminal Justice Department
JWU Criminal Justice Department

College of Arts & Sciences Advisory Council -Learning Communities
Oral Presentation
College of Arts & Sciences Advisory Council Meeting
John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences
Zoom

Criminal Justice/Psychology CLP Cohort
Panel Presentation
Faculty Showcase/Transformative Expo
Johnson & Wales University
Second Floor of Friedman Center
Cranston
RI

Examine Correlation Between Police Academy Training and Officer Suicide
Panel Presentation
60th Annual ACJS International Conference “Critical Connections Between Civil Rights + Crime + Social Justice”
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS)
International Conference
National Harbor
MD

Time for a Change in Culture
Panel Presentation
59th Annual ACJS International Conference
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS)
International Conference
Las Vegas
NV

Integrated Learning: An Opportunity Seized and a Lesson Learned
Panel Presentation
3rd Annual Faculty Showcase
Johnson & Wales University
Cranston
RI

Second Amendment Panel
Panel Presentation
Second Amendment Panel Presentation
Johnson & Wales University
Schneider Auditorium
Providence
RI

The Elephant in the Room: Cumulative Stress in Policing
Panel Presentation
54th Annual Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) Conference
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS)
International Conference
Kansas City
MI

To Kill a Mockingbird: The Fight for Serenity
Panel Presentation
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Senoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority at Johnson & Wales University
W306 Johnson & Wales University
Providence
RI

Society’s Automatons: Cumulative Stress in Policing
Panel Presentation
40th Annual Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences (NEACJS) Conference
Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences (NEACJS)
Regional Conference
Portsmouth
RI

Society’s Automaton: An Existential Perspective on Police Training Techniques and Stress Management Education
Oral Presentation
4th Annual College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Symposium
Johnson & Wales University
Cranston
RI

Collaborative Learning Program at Johnson & Wales University
Poster
Collaborative Learning Program Conference/Retreat
Atlantic Center for Learning Communities
Holy Family Passionate Retreat Center
West Hartford
CT