Acknowledgements

The old adage “it takes a village,” does not even begin to account for the amount of support and help that went taking this textbook from an idea into a reality. This textbook didn’t take a village; it took a giant capital city! I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge those who helped along the way.

Writing any textbook, especially an open access textbook that will not turn a profit, is an investment not only on the part of the authors but of the institutions that support them. This textbook would not have happened if we did not have the institutional support at Griffith University. Griffith University prides itself on living its values and that was evident from the start with this project. Thank you to Professor Shaun Ewan, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), and Professor Julie Robert, Dean, Learning and Teaching (AEL). Between monetary support to ensure that students were compensated for their time and efforts, offering staff to help create embedded interactive content, and always taking the opportunity to promote the work of everyone involved in this endeavor, we could not have asked for more enthusiastic and supportive champions. And thank you to Griffith University Librarian Maureen Sullivan, for your leadership and vision on the ways that open access can improve educational opportunities and experiences for all of our students. The support and commitment from the Library staff is the magic glue that held this project together.

To Craig Milne, Deputy University Librarian and Head of Scholarly Resources and Library Campus Services, who put the idea into my head and was always enthusiastic when I asked the hard questions. In an off-handed comment about the difficulties finding Australian based resources, he challenged me to rethink the way that we provide resources to our students. I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge, so here we are. He has been an unfailing champion of this project ever since.

When it comes to taking an idea and making it reality, there is no equal to Bonnie Dixon, Discipline Librarian, Learning and Teaching Services. Whether it was the nuts and bolts of ensuring countless copyright checks and compliance with open access textbook requirements or fielding a series of increasingly disjointed emails (from me) at the end of the project, she was unflappable and her calm guidance gave me the confidence that we would, in the end, pull this project off. She helped steer this ship every step of the way.

Closer to home, the Head of School for Criminology and Criminal Justice, Professor Danielle Reynald, was the biggest cheerleader for this project. Her trust, her support of all of the academics and students who participated, and her willingness to let me run with something that was completely new (and definitely a little harebrained) are just some examples of her supportive leadership. I will never forget the first time that I explained the project to her – my enthusiasm trumped my articulation and there may have been a moment of skepticism. I am forever grateful for the trust and faith she placed in me to make this project happen.

I know that every contributor to this textbook also acknowledges mentors, supervisors, friends and family, without whom the paths that led us here would have been much less fulfilling. I wish I could name every single person but it turns out, even in open access, there is such a thing as too many words. But your support is seen and appreciated.

I would also like to acknowledge our students. Every academic who contributed to this project has taught a class, often an introductory class, and had the opportunity to learn as much from you as you have from us. It is your experiences that guide us and have given us initiative to think outside the box about what would help you most. This is just the first step.

On a personal note, I would like to thank my co-editors, Lucy and Steph. They took on a challenge that was bigger than any of us imagined and hit it out of the park. Their enthusiasm, hard work and attention to detail have are the reason that so much of this textbook is so amazing. And thank you to the CCJ academic and professional staff for everything they have done to support me and this project. I especially thank Angie Signorini,  Sessional Administration Officer, for her hours of pouring over lists and budgets and administration. Thank you to Amanda O’Brien and Jarl Martinson for always helping me find the answer, to Associate Professor Louise Porter and School Manager Deb Waldron for listening to regular textbook updates with more excitement than such minutiae may have deserved, and every other one of my colleagues who took my enthusiasm in stride. And last, I thank my cat, who takes responsibility for all typos. She really likes to walk on a keyboard.

Associate Professor Nadine M. Connell                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Deputy Head of School, Learning & Teaching                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Queensland, Australia                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  March 5, 2024