On Wed. April 27, numerous graduate students and faculty members gathered for an informal reception to say goodbye to and celebrate a fixture of the College, as well as the field of criminology.

After over 37 years with FSU’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Professor Gary Kleck will be retiring at the end of the Spring 2016 Semester.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Kleck’s work has impacted not only his students and colleagues, but also the field of criminology and national policy. As a highly revered expert on gun control, Dr. Kleck has testified before Congress and state legislatures on gun control proposals. Additionally, his research was cited in the Supreme Court’s landmark District of Columbia v. Heller decision, which struck down the D.C. handgun ban and held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms.

Dr. Kleck’s work has also been honored by his peers. Among his many accolades, he won the Michael J. Hindelang Award from the American Society of Criminology for his book Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America.

Though he is retiring from teaching at the College, Dr. Kleck is not parting for good. He will still be a frequent visitor of Eppes as he continues work on his research.

A formal reception will be held for Dr. Kleck at the American Society of Criminology (ASC) annual meeting this November in New Orleans, LA.

To see photos from the reception, please visit our Facebook page.