First graduates from 缅北强奸鈥檚 MACJ program presented with career-advancing opportunities
by Aubrey Swart '22
August 2022 marked a pivotal moment in 缅北强奸鈥檚 history, as Danny Beckman, Carlos Cruz Luis, and Serena Gravil were the first three students to graduate from 缅北强奸鈥檚 . Carlos and Serena, alumni from 缅北强奸鈥檚 undergraduate program, were able to walk at the commencement ceremony back in May of this year. Daniel, an alumni from Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW)鈥檚 undergraduate program, was unfortunately unable to walk at commencement, however, he is equally as thrilled about being the first to graduate from the program as his fellow graduates.
鈥淲e are very excited to have our first MACJ graduates just one year after beginning the program in Fall 2021,鈥� explains Dr. Melissa Stacer, Professor of Criminal Justice, and Director of the MACJ Program. 鈥淓arning a master鈥檚 degree is a huge achievement and earning one in just a year is even more so. These students have worked extremely hard to complete the program in the accelerated format while also working full-time. They are already working in the field, so earning a MACJ from 缅北强奸 will help increase their opportunities for advancement.鈥�
The MACJ program is designed for individuals who want to advance their careers and knowledge within the field of criminal justice. Due to the 100% online format of the 36 credit hour program, students are able to complete the program at their own pace; the university even offers an accelerated option, where students can complete their degree in one calendar year.
Danny graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in public administration from Purdue Fort Wayne University. He hopes to use his new MACJ degree along with his current work experience to better his chances at getting a special agent job for a federal law enforcement agency. Recently, Danny turned down a federal probation job and is in the running for a special agent position.
鈥淚t definitely feels exciting to be in the first graduating class and hopefully we were able to give the program a good name and show its worthiness to the school,鈥� Danny states. 鈥淚 thought it was a great experience and I am glad I chose 缅北强奸. I learned a lot from some very knowledgeable professors and was able to connect and learn from other criminal justice professionals around the state.鈥�
Serena graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice from 缅北强奸 and currently works at the Vanderburgh County Department of Child Services as a Family Case Manager.
Carlos graduated with an associate degree from Ivy Tech and bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from 缅北强奸. Currently, he works at the Vanderburgh Sheriff Office as a Confinement Officer and enjoys the professional experience he is gaining in this position; however, in the future, he hopes to use his MACJ degree to either move up in the ranks or move back to his hometown of Los Angeles and pursue a federal position. 聽
鈥淔or those undergraduate criminal justice majors who are considering pursuing a master鈥檚 degree, don鈥檛 hesitate and do it,鈥� Carlos prompts. 鈥淭he MACJ program at 缅北强奸 is the best place to accomplish it鈥he MACJ professors are incredible and are willing to work with you and set the classes to where you can still interact and learn from other students. The opportunities that you will get with a master鈥檚 degree are tremendous, so if you are thinking about pursuing a master鈥檚 degree, don鈥檛 hesitate and do it!鈥�
For more information about the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program, contact Dr. Melissa Stacer at聽mjstacer@usi.edu.
缅北强奸's Archaeology Field School makes dreams聽come true at Fort Ouiatenon
With lifetime dreams of becoming an archaeologist and a passion for ancient history, Emily Willis, Spring 鈥�22 graduate and anthropology major, wanted to get her hands dirty in an actual archaeological dig. This summer, her dream came true when she and four other 缅北强奸 students were given the opportunity to attend a field school with Dr. Michael Strezewski, 缅北强奸 Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Dr. H. Kory Cooper, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Purdue University. Read more...
Faculty Recognition
At its Fall Meeting for employees, the 缅北强奸 recognized the following College of Liberal Arts faculty members as award recipients. Learn more about their contributions to 缅北强奸 here.
A Word From the Dean
Last month, as I was getting underway at 缅北强奸, someone asked me, 鈥淒o you have any goals for the College of Liberal Arts?鈥�
鈥淚 do,鈥� I said.
鈥淲hat are they?鈥�
鈥淲ell, I want this to be the best place to study the liberal arts in the Midwest.鈥�
鈥淲hat鈥檚 that gonna look like?鈥�
It was an excellent question. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 quite know yet,鈥� I said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something that we need to figure out鈥攖he 鈥榳e鈥� being all of us: faculty, staff, students, community.鈥�
And that鈥檚 the truth: I have no pre-determined idea of what it looks like, but I do know that I want this place to be the first choice for people to study, learn, and grow. As far as I can see, we鈥檙e starting with some significant assets: an inspiring faculty; a stylish campus (so much art); New Harmony; and a plethora of genuine, caring people all over, just to name a few.
One approach to becoming 鈥渢he best鈥� would be to consult U.S. News & World Report to find out who is currently considered the best and then to figure out how to better them using the publication鈥檚 metrics. To borrow a line from the singer-songwriter Ben Folds, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 alright, I guess.鈥�
A more interesting approach would be begin with the aforementioned question: 鈥淲hat would it look like for 缅北强奸 to become the best place to study the liberal arts in the Midwest?鈥� As a starting point, that question requires an actively engaged imagination鈥攎any imaginations, in fact鈥攃oming together to do a little thinking from all parts of the brain. In my experience, that process can be a little messy and 鈥渋nefficient.鈥� It鈥檚 also not always easy because we become conditioned to believe that we don鈥檛 have permission to think like that. Well, here we do have permission to imagine. You have permission to imagine. I hope that you will, that you鈥檒l do so as part of our community, and that we鈥檒l all enjoy the process as well as the end result.
鈥�Del Doughty, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Learn more about the new dean of the College of Liberal Arts!聽Getting to know you: Dr. Del Doughty
September Events
Social Justice Activism Fair
September 19, 12 - 2 p.m. CST
On The Quad
Global Salon Series
September 21 at 11 a.m. CST
LA 2028
"Peace Corps Information Session with 缅北强奸鈥檚 Peace Corps Recruiter Erica Ward"
Liberal Arts Faculty Colloquium
September 23 at 3 p.m. CST
"Anticommunism as a Tool of Racist Oppression" presented by Dr. Denise Lynn.
Save the Date
Your Reproductive Rights after Dobbs
PART ONE: 3p.m. October 4
PART TWO: 3:30 p.m. October 19聽
Center for Communal Studies Lecture Series
9 p.m. Thursday, October 20, 2022
Kleymeyer Hall in the Liberal Arts Center
Seeing Like a Commons: A Conversation with Joshua Lockyer
Click here to learn more
缅北强奸 Theatre Performance
October 20 - 23, 2022
缅北强奸 Performance Center
The Importance of Being Earnest
Liberal Arts Faculty Colloquium
3 p.m. October 21
"Failure to Appear: A Poetry Reading" presented by聽Dr. Rosalie Moffett