January 23, 2025
Time at the U
- I decided to attend the U mostly because I'm a Utah native and had a full-ride scholarship.
I had been interested in psychology in high school, so that's what I immediately began
to pursue. As I started my undergraduate education, I realized how many overlaps there
were between psychology and sociology, and I was excited to take advantage of the
criminology certificate (since they didn't have an actual degree at the time). I wanted
to understand how people operate internally and externally, especially as it pertains
to deviance.
- I always knew I wanted to go to graduate school, but as an undergraduate, I didn't
realize that research experience was incredibly helpful for advancing education. So
I reached out to some advisors in the psychology department during my last semester
to gain some experience in research and higher academics. [I can provide specifics
on who I worked with and what we studied, if you want].
- I got a position with the police department as a forensic science intern, which
fulfilled a course requirement and also was fundamental in re-affirming my passion
for this field. I also got a job working as a professional tutor, which helped foster
my love of education and teaching.
[Time between U & Current Career]
- I took a year off between undergraduate and graduate school because I needed a break
to help me avoid burnout moving forward. Also, I had no idea what I specifically wanted
to do besides pursue a doctorate.
- I went to George Mason University for a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, but I left with my Master's because
the program didn't feel like the right fit for me. During that time, I studied leadership
abroad in Italy, which was a great experience. The program was heavily consultation-based,
so I am skilled in that area. I've always been fascinated with delinquent behavior
and understanding the way the mind and society work, and as a graduate research assistant
in this program I focused primarily on studying counterproductive work behaviors and
ethics in remote work. I worked with the Human Resources department and was the Vice
President of the Student Association. I also taught several courses, including a course
on criminological topics that I created entirely myself. This reinforced what I truly
was passionate about while also gaining relevant experience.
- I took another couple of years off; and as I cannot stop going back to school, I
decided to try to find a nice complement between my interests and my experience at
the time. I ended up going to University of Denver and received my Master's in Forensic Psychology. This program was heavily clinical,
so I am skilled in that area. I was a graduate research assistant and the executive
editor of the departmental newsletter about advocacy. During this time I gained experience
as an intern on the Forensic Support Team for the Colorado Department of Health &
Human Services, as a contractor for the federal Department of Defense, as a research
assistant for the university of Wyoming, and as an intern for Denver Adult Probation
& Parole.
- These two degrees complement each other quite well as I'm finding multiple different
ways to contribute to the department beyond my job description.
My Career Now
- Role: Ultimately my goal is to make systemic change and help better the communities of
the populations we work with and the populations we serve. So I came back to Utah
and started working for the Utah Department of Corrections as a research consultant in the Technology and Innovation division (formerly known as the Research and Planning
division).
- Research: One of my primary responsibilities is as Research Chair. This involves handling all
internal and external research requests. I identify key performance indicators as
well as effectiveness metrics for offender programs, which lead to the development
of Program Implementation Plans. I also have the opportunity to conduct my own research,
which is part of why I'm partnering with Katie Durante on a grant (hopefully) this
spring. I am a part of workflow management, so I monitor how we are completing projects
and the time it takes; but also implementing more and more automation so we can reduce
efforts on monotonous tasks. I also am very much responsible for doing data analysis
and interpretation, as well as presenting [visual] findings to executives in a way
that is digestible. Research is valuable, but only insofar as the quality of the data
is good (i.e., validity, reliability, meaning, and implications of our findings). That's
the whole point, right? To make data-driven decisions in a way that is accurate but
understandable.
- Interdepartmental Teams:
Policy Advisory Committee Chair: This is a pretty massive role in that I help review and approve departmental policy
and procedure - particularly as it pertains to our division. This involves being informed
of current legislation and changes in the internal organizational structure.
Civilian Collaboration Committee: It's a relatively new committee that, excitedly, focuses its efforts on interdisciplinary
collaboration. We discuss issues and trends across divisions and try to address them
together rather than apart.
AWEC Mentorship Program
- Legislation: I am starting to do fiscal notes, and I am also working with Eric Hutchings on re-defining
all terms in legislation for clarity and conciseness.
- "Boots on the Ground": I think it is extremely helpful to participate in field experience regardless of your
role so you can truly understand the processes. I have been on several ride-alongs
with a few different divisions, I have attended days on the Hill, and I am a perpetual
conference attendee across the nation. The key is to never stop learning or being
curious.
- Personal Thoughts: I never thought I'd be the data nerd (a nerd for sure, but not data). I think in
addition to gaining experience, I think it's valuable to job-craft so you get a position
that really works for you and your interests. For me personally, I am partnering with
Adult Probation & Parole as well as the Division of Prison Operations. Working with
these teams allows me to make an actual difference in the lives of those in (or recently
were in) incarceration. As an example, I am looking at self-report data from parole
violators and identifying the risk/protective factors so we can better learn to reach
our goals as a department. I also helped create the new mission, vision, and values
for the department as a whole. I'm sure at some point I will end up in academia again.
How Sociology/Criminology[/Psychology] program has helped in my career
- Generally speaking, it has given me a surplus of opportunities - both academically
and professionally. I took a rather unique trajectory in both my academic and professional journeys. But
that just shows how far and how many places you can go with these various degrees.
I would recommend students take advantage of all opportunities - your path does not
have to be linear and you never know what will come from it. You have to get comfortable
with being uncomfortable; things are always changing, so adaptability is key.
- Cross-disciplinary efforts are vital, and they are becoming increasingly so. Having
the diverse background I do allowed me to find my niche as well as easily collaborate
with my colleagues. I do not think we should be siloed. This also helps with networking
and fostering executive relationships.
