“Investing in Our Future: The Role of the Criminal Justice System: – The 8th Annual Missouri State University Criminology and Criminal Justice Conference will be held in Plaster Student Union on the Springfield campus. This annual event is free, does not require registration, and is open to all students, staff, faculty, community members, and professionals in the fields of criminology and criminal justice. Keynote speakers include the creators of the “More Than a Cop” blog and speaker series, and Dr. Ed Latessa from the University of Cincinnati. A student paper and presentation competition, an alumni panel, an ex-offender, panel, and a dozen break-out sessions will be included. The “Opportunities Fair” allowing agencies to seek employees, volunteers, and interns, will be included each day of the event. Additionally, the popular Re-Integration Simulation Workshop will be held (see photo for a team photo from the April 2015 conference). For additional information about the conference, please contact the conference coordinator, Ivy Yarckow-Brown at Yarckow-Brown@MissouriState.edu.