Skip to main content
Apply Request Info

Sean Elliot Martin, Ph.D.

Chair, School of Continuing & Professional Studies

Associate Professor, Criminal Justice & Intelligence Studies

 

 

Contact InformationPictured is Sean Elliot Martin. Photo by Randall Coleman.

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, University of Toledo
  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Point Park University
  • Master of Arts, English Literature, Eastern Michigan University
  • Master of Science, Environmental Studies, Point Park University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, English, Duquesne University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Martial Arts Philosophy, College of Advanced Education and Martial Arts Studies, EUSAIMAA
  • Professional Certificate, Intelligence and National Security, Point Park University

Courses Taught

  • Critical Thinking for Analysts
  • Intelligence Analyst/Critical Thinking
  • Misinformation and Psy Ops
  • Identifying and Analyzing Propaganda
  • Research Methods in Security and Intelligence Studies
  • Communications and Writing for Intelligence
  • Thesis Project

Background

Sean Elliot Martin, Ph.D., M.S., is an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies and chair of the School of Continuing & Professional Studies. 

Martin has served as a consultant, trainer, researcher, writer and business intelligence analyst for a wide variety of domestic and international organizations and companies, including the Allegheny County District Attorney's Intelligence Department, the 303rd Psychological Operations Unit of the U.S. Army Reserves and businesses across the world. Martin is also the founder and grandmaster (10th degree black belt) of the Kage-Essensu Defense System, which he teaches to students and employees of Point Park.

Curriculum Vitae

 

Research Interests and Specializations

  • Interdisciplinary approaches to criminal justice and intelligence studies
  • Intelligence writing
  • Psychological approaches to literary and cultural studies
  • Research methodology and critical thinking
  • Public and professional speaking
  • World cultures and religions
  • Psychological analysis of cultural documents
  • Journalism (research and writing)

Selected Publications

  • "Structuralist Methods of Psy Op Target Analysis, A Supplemental Manual," distributed by the 303rd Psychological Operations Unit of the Army Reserves, 2015.
  • Pittsburgh, the Greatest City in the World, (with Heath Curran), CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2009.
  • Doing Good Works: Small Acts that Make a Big Difference, (co-written with Bryan Douglas), Think Big Press, 2009.
  • "The Protector's Pages: 101 tips for crime prevention and self-defense," widely distributed online and in hard copy, 2005.

Selected Presentations

  • "Crime Prevention and Cultural Analysis," Eastern USA International Black Belt Hall of Fame Seminar Series, 2014.
  • "Pre-Industrial Intelligence Tradecraft," Eastern USA International Black Belt Hall of Fame Seminar Series, 2013.
  • "Lethal Kage-Essensu Survival Combat for Federal Law Enforcement and Military Personnel," Eastern USA International Black Belt Hall of Fame Seminar Series, 2012.
  • "A History of Espionage in the Pittsburgh Region," Moon Township Historical Society, 2012.
  • "Introduction to Forensic Martial Arts Analysis Theory," Eastern USA International Black Belt Hall of Fame Seminar Series, 2011.
  • "The Border of Twilight: Representations of Nocturnal America, Modern Language Association International Conference, 2000.

Selected Honors and Awards

  • Ph.D., Martial Arts Philosophy, College of Advanced Education and Martial Arts Studies
  • Alpha Chai Honor Society for work in forensic psychology
  • Certificate of Distinguished Faculty Excellence, Duquesne University Spiritan Division
  • Golden Key Honor Society for Ph.D. work in English
  • Tenth Degree Black Belt of the Kage-Essensu Survival Combat/Law Enforcement Technique
  • Fifth Degree Black Belt of Combat Jiu-Jitsu and Freestyle Karate
  • Grandmaster of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts, Eastern USA International Martial Arts Association Black Belt Hall of Fame
  • Special recognition from the Chief of Police of Dormont
  • International Pewter Award of Leadership
  • 2015 Martial Arts Excellence Award, International Black Belt Hall of Fame

Current Professional Memberships

  • Member, Order of the Sword and Shield
  • Associate Member, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
  • Member, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
  • Member, Eastern USA International Martial Arts Association Black Belt Hall of Fame

Volunteer Work

  • Instructor of crime prevention and self-defense
  • Co-founder, Pittsburgh People Helping People (2010)
  • Co-coordinator, Paint it Forward art for charity
  • Co-founder, Pittsburgh Arts for Change
  • Instructor, self-defense for blind students (1997-1998)

In the News

Point Park Features