While Sonja Blackburn currently resides in Lebanon, Missouri, she’s originally from Arkansas. Growing up in Fouke, Arkansas, she enjoyed a small-town, rural lifestyle. She learned to garden with her mother and learned to sew from her grandmother, a master seamstress. This time spent learning from her grandmother stayed with her into her adult life as she now enjoys quilting as a hobby.

Sonja, part of a graduating class of 28 students, began attending Texarkana Community College, but had to put her education on hold while she dealt with health issues. After moving to Missouri in the late 1990s, Sonja joined began attending the police academy in 1997. By 1998, Sonja embarked on her career in law enforcement.

Why Missouri State?

Missouri State University made sense for Sonja after transferring from Ozarks Technical Community College. She needed a University that was close to home and allowed for flexibility while working. Missouri State’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice fit the profile perfectly. And studying Criminology and Criminal Justice was the logical choice for Sonja, who had been a police officer for over a decade. She was able to pursue her passion – in both profession and education.

Even with her years of experience in the field, she says that learning different aspects of her criminology has been her favorite part about earning degree. “I always looked at crime through the lenses of a police officer instead of a normal person. This year in particular has been a real eye-opener for me.” Sonja is excited to further her career when she earns her diploma in the spring.

Looking back on her MSU journey, Sonja says her favorite aspect has been the encounters with her amazing professors. She states that they have been helpful and wonderful to learn from. Besides her criminology classes, Sonja found learning about the Dead Sea Scrolls in her religions elective class enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

When asked if she had any advice to pas on to future adult learners at MSU, Sonja shared,

“Keep your mind open. Be impressionable to learning new things and study hard.”

Overall, Sonja feels that attending Missouri State University has been a phenomenal experience. She’s thankful for the help and encouragement from her instructors and advisors making her dream of obtaining her bachelor’s degree a reality.