Denny Powers serves as the Program Director for the Criminal Justice degree in Columbia, S.C.
Powers joined South University following nearly 30 years experience in the criminal justice field holding positions in City, State and Federal law enforcement agencies. He is a graduate of Scotland Yard’s Advanced Detective Course, the City of Roanoke, Va. Police Academy, the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA), Drug Enforcement Officers Academy, the FBI Hostage Negotiator and Criminal Psychology Profiling Course.
Powers began his career in law enforcement as a city police officer in Roanoke, Va. in 1969, where he served as a Uniformed Patrolman for three years. He continued his career in law enforcement as a Special Agent with the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for the next 22 years, retiring in 1994 at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Four. Powers served in Korea, Germany and the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
During his career, he has held adjunct teaching positions for Central Texas College, Far East and European Divisions and Midlands Technical College; The Eight Army Military Police Investigators Academy and the Seventh Army Customs Inspectors Academy. Powers worked as a Special Agent/Law Enforcement Officer II, in the General Counsel’s Office of Investigation, South Carolina Department of Social Services until his retirement in 1998. Powers also worked as a Criminal Justice Instructor, Department Chair and Program Manager for Central Carolina Technical College, Sumter, S.C.
Powers' academic credentials include an Education Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership and Curriculum Development from National Louis University, Evanston, Ill., a master's degree in Forensic Science from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and a bachelor of science degree in Liberal Studies from the University of The State of NY, Albany, N.Y.