Why FSU?

I completed my undergraduate degree at Florida State University and loved my time here. The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice is one of the best in the nation, especially for research, and that really drove my decision to ultimately choose FSU for graduate school. The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice's slogan is "Research Brought to Life," and that slogan really embodied what I wanted to get out of a doctoral degree.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I have always been one to want to keep learning more. My time at FSU in the undergraduate Criminology and Criminal Justice program sparked my interest to not only learn more about the discipline, but also become engaged in the research and efforts to make a difference. I knew with a graduate degree I would have the opportunity to pursue my research interests and apply my work.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

Much of my research focuses on juvenile justice education. Specifically, my work has looked at the barriers to educational attainment for youth involved in the juvenile justice system and explores avenues to reduce those barriers. Educational achievement has been shown to be a major turning point in one's criminal offending, so I believe that if we can improve the educational outcomes of youth involved in the juvenile justice system, then we can help reduce the likelihood of future offending and improve the life outcomes of these youth.

Career aspirations

My ultimate goal is to end up in a career where I can apply my research to improve the lives of those in the criminal justice system. I have not quite figured out yet whether that will be in a faculty role at a university or in a researcher position for a government agency or research institute. But I look forward to exploring those potential career paths.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Graduate school is challenging, but it is also rewarding. If you are passionate about something, go for it. Graduate school will open doors to many opportunities to pursue your interests.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I am really proud of what I have accomplished thus far in my graduate career. I have been able to publish in peer-reviewed journals, been invited to write a book chapter, and have published a research report stemming from one of my grants, which was highlighted by the College. Further, receiving two external research grants has been a highlight of my graduate career: PbS Database for Researchers Grant (2022) and the FSU Institute of Politics Civic Engagement and Political Participation Grant (2023). While I have had the opportunity to work on multiple funded research projects within the College, the sense of accomplishment of receiving your own research grant is beyond words. It truly is an amazing feeling knowing there are others who find your research valuable and want to fund it.