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LaPrade and Sandel receive FCTL honors

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Two faculty members from the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities have been awarded the 2024 Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) Teaching Excellence Award.

The honorees, associate professor Dr. Jennifer LaPrade and associate professor Dr. William Sandel, teach in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Only four faculty were selected overall for the award.

Each year the FCTL recognizes faculty members who have been nominated due to their demonstrated teaching excellence and dedication to student success.

“Bill and Jennifer take teaching to another level,” said Dr. Brett Garland, head of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Both are constantly experimenting with new techniques and have a wonderful ability to motivate students to aim higher and push their limits.”

“They are like all great teachers who recognize that both learning and teaching are a process—and they are committed to continuously refining the art of teaching,” Garland continued. “I think their students pick up on that and become energized from it.”

Nominated faculty members go through a rigorous application process, with the FCTL recognizing top applicants with the distinguished excellence in teaching award.

[Read more…] about LaPrade and Sandel receive FCTL honors

Criminal justice students win big at annual conference

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Members of the Missouri State University chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the international criminal justice honor society, made an impressive showing at the annual conference in Chicago, Illinois, March 20-22, 2024.

Three of those students—Joshua Woolfington, Jordan Allen and Sierra Sankey—garnered top prizes in various competitions.

But as executive student officers of the organization, they also coordinated the entire conference under the guidance of their chapter advisor, Ivy Yarckow-Brown.

They were also assisted by provisionary members Taigen Mitchell and Madison Korp, who attended the conference to learn more about future leadership opportunities within the organization.

Currently, Woolfington is president, Allen is secretary and Sankey is treasurer of Alpha Phi Sigma.

MSU nabs top prizes

Woolfington, who graduates this May with a master’s in criminology and criminal justice, earned first place in the Graduate Knowledge test. He was awarded a $750 cash prize for his efforts.

Woolfington has a conditional offer with the Lincoln, Nebraska, police department after graduation. He is especially interested in working in investigations and hopes someday to be a chief of police or possibly work within a federal agency.

Meanwhile Allen, a junior double major in criminology and criminal justice and psychology, won first place in the Undergraduate Knowledge test. She also won a cash prize of $750.

Woolfington won the same prize in 2023.

Both Woolfington and Allen said they relied on the knowledge they have acquired through their program at Missouri State to prepare for the exam competitions.

“For the Knowledge Test, everything I learned during my undergraduate career at Missouri State, combined with what I have learned while doing my master’s, prepared me for it,” Woolfington said.

For her preparation, Allen said she was already studying for four different exams that she would have to take once she returned to Springfield.

“I also looked through a couple of my old notebooks to refresh my memory on past course material,” she said.

“I had heard that this test was difficult, and I admit that it was difficult,” Allen continued. “In the end, I was really happy to see all my hard work in academics pay off.”

Allen, who will graduate in 2025, plans to attend graduate school, then work in correctional counseling to help individuals transition out of incarceration. [Read more…] about Criminal justice students win big at annual conference

Now taking applications for CSI Camp 2024

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The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice crime scene investigation (CSI) summer camp will return for its second year June 10-13, 2024, on the Springfield campus of Missouri State University. Sessions run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

UPDATE: Due to popular demand, a second CSI Camp has been added for 2024. It runs July 8-11. Applications accepted until June 16.

Incoming high school students freshmen through seniors are eligible to attend.

Early applications are encouraged, as space for the summer camp is limited. Online applications are now being accepted.

Camp tuition is $275 per camper. Tuition fees include a camp t-shirt and lunch daily. Lodging is not provided.

What is CSI Camp?

CSI Camp covers topics like basic criminal investigation, forensic analysis techniques, crime scene processing and collection and packaging of evidence.

Camp activities include lifting and examining fingerprints, casting tread impressions, identifying and examining blood spatter/stains and more.

Apply now

Assistant professor of criminology Dr. Michael Kyle returns to lead the camp this year. Kyle was instrumental in envisioning and leading the first CSI Camp in 2023. Dr. Samantha Tjaden, assistant professor of criminology, will also facilitate camp sessions again this year.

Also returning to ensure a quality camp experience are Dr. Brett Garland, director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Administrative Assistant Christy Titus.

For more information, contact the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at 417-836-3799 or criminology@missouristate.edu.

Check out CSI Camp

Criminology alum Alison Gatzemeyer helps fight crime as intelligence analyst

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For Alison Gatzemeyer, the opportunity to explore various courses at Missouri State University and complete an internship while she was a student led her to discover a career path as a crime intelligence analyst.

After graduating in December 2022 with a degree in criminology, psychology minor and a criminal investigation certificate, Gatzemeyer landed a crime analyst position at the Kansas City Missouri Police Department (KCPD).

Gatzemeyer said her job involves critical thinking, puzzle solving and making connections to criminals, associates, properties, financials and other areas. The goal is to identify patterns in ongoing investigations by reviewing criminal history, evidence or data.

“I love being able to pull pieces of information from different places and make everything fit together. I spend a lot of time searching for what others may not be able to find, so it’s fun to figure out those missing pieces to make the big picture,” Gatzemeyer said.

“Working with detectives is so much fun!” [Read more…] about Criminology alum Alison Gatzemeyer helps fight crime as intelligence analyst

Mock Trial Team extends competitive season with big wins at regionals

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Missouri State University’s Mock Trial team continued its remarkable 2023-2024 season by earning a trip to the first rounds of national competition.

With their winning performances at the regional competition in Norman, OK, the team now heads to the American Mock Trial Association’s Opening Round Championship Series or “ORCS.”

The ORCS will be held in Memphis, TN, March 7-10.

“We have 10 days to prepare for ORCS!” said Dr. Jennifer LaPrade, Mock Trial coach and assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

“I am so proud of our team,” LaPrade said. “These students work incredibly hard and represent the best and brightest of Missouri State.”

“Memphis, here we come!”

Team awards

Like many schools with Mock Trial teams, MSU sends two teams to a Mock Trial competition.

One of MSU’s teams earned a spot in the Top 6, said LaPrade. “This makes them automatically advance to the next round.”

The second team earned Honorable Mention, which puts them on the waitlist to compete if a spot opens up for ORCS.

Individual awards

Meanwhile, individual members of the team were recognized at the regionals for their outstanding efforts.

Zackary Collison – Outstanding Witness
Layna Mangiapanello – Outstanding Witness
Josh Roberts – Outstanding Attorney
Alyssa Roney – Outstanding Witness

 

Follow the Mock Trial team