Criminal Justice Expert Bolsters Student Success
Glenn College graduate student Hemzeh Khasawneh explains his research on how state-implemented education programs in prisons correlate with reduced recidivism to fellow students in a research capstone class taught by Assistant Professor Ashley Orr (seated front right). (Credit: Lily Li)
Glenn College student Hemzeh Khasawneh, who is earning a Master of Public Administration with a focus in criminal justice policy, finds that his coursework often reflects what he sees in his job as a case officer and corrections officer with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
Glenn College graduate Rick Seiter, a nationally recognized expert in criminal justice, created a scholarship for students who are studying criminal justice administration policy.
“This is the way I approached my career: Start at an entry level, and what you get at every step of the way builds a platform for you to be a better leader, manager and decision maker throughout your career,” Seiter said. “Start as a police officer, correction officer, probation officer. Work your way through the system, because it builds credibility for you. As you move into levels where you’re a supervisor and manager, think about the important impact you have on everybody that works for you.”
“After graduation,” Khasawneh said, “my goal is to continue working in higher levels of criminal justice administration, where I can contribute to policy development and improve institutional practices. In the long term, I hope to pursue a career in academia and become a professor, teaching and mentoring future students who are interested in criminal justice administration and reform.”
Through this scholarship, Rick Seiter is helping students like me continue our education, grow as professionals and prepare to become future leaders in criminal justice.
Glenn College student Ejuan Kendrick
He said he is interested in criminal justice because it is one of the most complex areas of public policy, with many interconnected and multidimensional components.
“The criminal justice system has a profound impact on individuals, families and entire communities, and it is an area that clearly needs reform,” Kendrick said. “I am motivated to look at criminal justice because meaningful change requires people who genuinely care about the issue and understand how policies can produce both intended and unintended consequences across different communities.”
My focus was always on creating a safe and secure prison environment, which included a humane, decent and rehabilitative environment for inmates and engagement and professionalism for staff.
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The PhD program, he said, allowed him to broaden his academic work as he conducted research and became assistant director of the Program for the Study of Crime and Delinquency. The program is now called the Criminal Justice Research Center, where Glenn College faculty members including Professor Russell Hassan, Assistant Professor Victor St. John, Assistant Professor Tasha Perdue and Associate Dean for Curriculum Rob Greenbaum collaborate on related research with faculty across the university.
“I established many important networks through my faculty, colleagues and research contacts that opened doors for me and greatly impacted my future career opportunities,” he said.