Jordan Shalla graduated with an MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice in May 2020, but found he couldn’t stay away from the Missouri State campus for long.
After taking a break and engaging in a number of travel excursions that included trips to Florida, Texas, Utah, and Nevada, Jordan found the opportunity to return to Springfield and MSU far too irresistible to pass up. “I have been working for the Office of University Safety as a Campus Safety Specialist since mid-January,” Jordan said during a recent visit. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve the university in this capacity. I genuinely care about the university that I have been a part of for nearly 7 years now.” He went on to tell us that “working as a Campus Safety Specialist has benefited me at a personal level by boosting my confidence. I regularly find myself in situations that I have never experienced before. I meet different people every day.”
Despite his luck finding a job back at MSU so quickly, he does not paint his daily responsibilities in an entirely rosy light.
“The most challenging part of my job is interacting with people on some of their worst days. As you can imagine, the calls we are dispatched to usually pertain to someone having some sort of hardship or concern. I have always believed myself to have a positive attitude and be an overall optimistic person. These traits are definitely a huge asset in this type of work, as I strive to end each interaction as positively as possible.”
Shortly after beginning his new position, Jordan met the recent winter weather crisis head on:
“We are essential employees and are expected to report to work as normal despite weather conditions and whether the university is closed or not. It was very interesting working through the record cold temperatures and the significant snowfall we had in mid-February. I had to wear yak-tracks on my shoes just to safely walk around campus. We helped push numerous cars that got stuck in parking lots. I found this to be very fun and I was encouraged that random people walking by routinely offered to help. I am more of a warm weather person, so I am looking forward to performing bike patrols later on in the spring and summer.”
Jordan takes pride in helping to keep the students, faculty, staff, and visitors at MSU safe and enjoys the excitement and unpredictability that comes with being a campus officer. As all of us who came to know Jordan well during his time in our Department can attest, he is definitely well-suited for his new line of work.
While a graduate student Jordan worked closely with Dr. Bill Sandel and assisted the Department with a number of projects and events. We wish you all the best, Jordan…be safe and we will be seeing you around!