B.S., Criminal Justice
Current Profession:
I have been a District First Sergeant with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol
for 7 years. I have been employed with the NCSHP for 24 years. My responsibilities
as a District First Sergeant are leadership, management, and administration of the
troopers and sergeants assigned to Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania Counties.
Analyzing traffic crash data and developing methods to reduce crashes is another duty
of a district first sergeant. Troopers are a very highly skilled and trained group
of law enforcement professionals who are dedicated to the protection and safety of
the motoring public.
My plans for the future are to continue to serve the state as a member of the Patrol. After
retiring from the Patrol, I will look to pursue options in teaching criminal justice,
leadership, or ethics classes at the university level.
Why Western?
Western Carolina has provided me with the opportunity to finish a degree that I started
years ago. Western Carolina University has always been a school of great distinction
in the mountains of North Carolina. There was no way I could have finished my education
without the online criminal justice program. I knew of no other university in North
Carolina that offered this curriculum online.
Your Western experience:
WCU's online program was challenging, yet flexible enough to manage while I worked
a 40+ hour-a-week job and spent time with my wife and two daughters. I found WCU advisers
to be very personable and professional. They were willing to look at my previous college
classes individually and give credit to me for past instruction when possible. My
graduation from WCU was without a doubt one of the proudest moments of my life.
How did your studies contribute to your career choice?
My studies did not contribute to my career choice, but they did contribute to a better
understanding of criminal justice as a whole. I have no doubt that my education at
WCU will aid me in reaching whatever career goals I aspire to. The education I received
helped me—even after 24 years of service—to look at my organization from a different perspective and to better understand the
NCSHP role in society.
Advice for students:
My advice would be to take your education seriously. The Criminal Justice Online Program
at WCU is a learning experience that will impact you for a lifetime. Things in life
that are worth having are seldom easy to obtain. Be committed and focused on your
goals. Be open to views from all perspectives. Life is not about taking the easy path,
so don’t go along with the crowd, but instead stand up and make a difference.
Into the future:
I don’t pretend to know what the future holds for my current career or future careers,
but I do know that my degree from WCU has opened additional avenues in my current
career and I am sure will play a large part in my future and that of my family.
B.S., Criminal Justice Current Profession:
I have been a District First Sergeant with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for 7 years. I have been employed with the NCSHP for 24 years. My responsibilities as a District First Sergeant are leadership, management, and administration of the troopers and sergeants assigned to Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania Counties. Analyzing traffic crash data and developing methods to reduce crashes is another duty of a district first sergeant. Troopers are a very highly skilled and trained group of law enforcement professionals who are dedicated to the protection and safety of the motoring public.
My plans for the future are to continue to serve the state as a member of the Patrol. After retiring from the Patrol, I will look to pursue options in teaching criminal justice, leadership, or ethics classes at the university level.
Why Western?
Western Carolina has provided me with the opportunity to finish a degree that I started years ago. Western Carolina University has always been a school of great distinction in the mountains of North Carolina. There was no way I could have finished my education without the online criminal justice program. I knew of no other university in North Carolina that offered this curriculum online. Your Western experience:
WCU's online program was challenging, yet flexible enough to manage while I worked a 40+ hour-a-week job and spent time with my wife and two daughters. I found WCU advisers to be very personable and professional. They were willing to look at my previous college classes individually and give credit to me for past instruction when possible. My graduation from WCU was without a doubt one of the proudest moments of my life.
How did your studies contribute to your career choice?
My studies did not contribute to my career choice, but they did contribute to a better understanding of criminal justice as a whole. I have no doubt that my education at WCU will aid me in reaching whatever career goals I aspire to. The education I received helped me—even after 24 years of service—to look at my organization from a different perspective and to better understand the NCSHP role in society. Advice for students:
My advice would be to take your education seriously. The Criminal Justice Online Program at WCU is a learning experience that will impact you for a lifetime. Things in life that are worth having are seldom easy to obtain. Be committed and focused on your goals. Be open to views from all perspectives. Life is not about taking the easy path, so don’t go along with the crowd, but instead stand up and make a difference.Into the future:
I don’t pretend to know what the future holds for my current career or future careers, but I do know that my degree from WCU has opened additional avenues in my current career and I am sure will play a large part in my future and that of my family.