Career Opportunities in Criminal Justice

Although Criminal Justice is a new major at Heidelberg beginning Fall 2008, graduates from other majors have gone on to successful careers in fields related to criminal justice. Heidelberg graduates hold careers in local law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals Service. Our former students serve as judges, prosecutors and elected public officials, as well as consultants in international management and as industry representatives for national and state legislatures and administrative agencies.
 

Alumnus Profile

Casey Keckler-Yerkes, ‘00

 

At Heidelberg, Casey was a political science major, a member of the baseball team, a resident assistant and the director of the Berg Events Council. Casey cites Heidelberg’s educational environment, small community appeal with big city opportunity and the faculty support structure as those aspects of Heidelberg he values most. He shared the following about his experiences at Heidelberg and his career path since graduation:
 
Heidelberg offered small class sizes, an engaging staff and, most importantly, a world class education. At Heidelberg there is less teaching and more learning in the classroom. Faculty and staff instruct by standard, not by time. They’ve always gone above and beyond their required duties to ensure that I, as with all students, always understood course material. Heidelberg also offers the ability to gain a college degree in a small community environment while having the opportunity to study anywhere in the world.
 
The curriculum and semester programs offered through Heidelberg enabled me to travel throughout the east coast, network with students from around the globe and pursue my academic interests in criminal justice. A good example of how Heidelberg prepares its students can be found through the Washington Semester Program at American University in Washington, D.C. This is one of many programs that offer students the opportunity to enroll in a specialized curriculum while at the same time gaining professional experience in the field of their choice.
 
The Washington Semester Program enabled me to focus my studies in criminal justice while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience by working as an Intern with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The academic and networking opportunities of the Washington Semester Program provided dividends that will continue to pay off well into the future.
 
Following graduation, I served two years as a Juvenile Probation Officer for the Seneca County Juvenile Court in Fostoria, Ohio. Subsequent to the juvenile court, I accepted a Teaching Assistantship at Bowling Green State University where I completed my Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.
 
In August 2003, I accepted a position at Heidelberg as an Admission Counselor before moving to Washington D.C. to accept a position in the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Treasury. My experience at the U.S. Department of Treasury concluded when I accepted a Legislative Aide position in the office of former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine. I served approximately two years in the Senator’s Washington D.C. office assigned to work judiciary and intelligence issues. In January 2006, I transferred to Senator DeWine’s Toledo, Ohio office where I served in numerous capacities, most notably as the Deputy Director of Grants and Coordinator of Outreach.
 
I currently serve as an Analyst with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
 
I’m eight years removed from my graduation, and I continually tap into the expertise of the faculty and staff. At Heidelberg you aren’t assigned a professor for a semester; you are provided a resource for life. Nowhere else will you find this type of commitment from college leadership, faculty and staff than at Heidelberg.
 
I’m not just glad to have chosen Heidelberg - I’m proud. This is a campus ripe with opportunity. All I had to bring was my initiative and willingness to learn; Heidelberg provided the rest.