MANSFIELD, PA (02/27/2023) Mansfield criminal justice majors have
recently been provided the opportunity to meet, learn from, and network
with two criminal justice professionals during their classes.
Dr.
Justin Crowl, criminal justice faculty member, said there has been a
concerted effort to actively seek alumni and those working in the
criminal justice field to help prepare students for their chosen career.
Crowl’s spring senior seminar class is designed to help students
integrate knowledge and assist them in developing analytical thinking
skills. Having professionals within the criminal justice field speak to
his students further enhances their knowledge and education.
“Students
learn best when they’re empowered, supported, and actively involved,”
Crowl said. “Our students learn by doing. These types of experiences
enhance their professional and personal development and prepares them
for a successful career and life after graduation.”
Jared Berken,
ATF Special Agent and 2015 Mansfield alumnus, returned to campus in
early February to speak with students in Crowl’s criminal justice ethics
and senior seminar classes. Berken also spoke to students in Dr. Emily
Wheeler’s policing class, about his job, federal law enforcement, and
employment opportunities with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (ATF).
Since graduating from Mansfield, Berken has
served as a patrol officer for the Aberdeen, Washington, police
department; resident patrol deputy with the Grays Harbor County
Sheriff’s Office; and is now assigned to the ATF’s Violent
Crimes/Firearms Trafficking Group in Pittsburgh. He also serves in the
Army Reserve as a civil affairs officer at the rank of captain in an
Airborne Civil Affairs Battalion.
Marlin Smith, Williamsport
Bureau of Police (WBP), also visited Mansfield in February. While there,
he spoke to students in Crowl’s classes about WBP – who they are and
what they do, their active recruitment drive, law enforcement, and
career preparedness. Smith is a lieutenant, day watch commander, and
field training supervisor for the bureau. He graduated with a degree in
criminal justice from Bloomsburg and earned his ACT 120 certification
from the Mansfield University Police Training Academy.
“I enjoy
having guests from our field come and talk to us because it helps me
learn about what kind of jobs there are to choose from. It also helps me
figure out what kind of criminal justice profession I want to get into
after I graduate,” said Rita Champaign, criminal justice major from
Wellsboro.
“When professors bring in outside professionals to
speak to the class, it gives the students ideas about what they can do
with the degree they are pursuing,” said Felicia Saar, criminal justice
and forensic psychology major from Olyphant. “The speakers always go
above and beyond to explain their roles as an employee, tell the
students how they got to where they are, discuss salary, and so much
more information that can be useful to students. I am beyond lucky to
have professors and outside professionals that care about expanding
knowledge about career opportunities to the future professionals in the
field.”
For more information about criminal justice at Mansfield,
contact Crowl, department lead at Mansfield. at jcrowl@mansfield.edu or
Wheeler at ewheeler@mansfield.edu.
