Criminal justice graduates look for truth, justice and the American way

Original Source – Spring 2017 – Page 5

Truth, justice and the American way is not just a catch phrase said by Superman™, but are also the foundations for the criminal justice system in the United States. At CU, these foundations have been passed onto Kelsey Best Willems, Jeremey Hamilton and hundreds of other criminal justice graduates.

“When I came to CU, I knew I wanted to be a public servant through some form of public work and help people. I was always interested in law and began laying the foundation to become a lawyer; then I found my niche in government and politics,” Willems, a 2012 graduate, said.

Hamilton (’15), said, “I always talked about it when I was a kid – always wanted to help people – and when I was in school I was always the one to stick up for someone.”

He said a church family took him in when he was 16, where he learned to be humble and that God was above all. “I ran across Proverbs 21:31 and that, to me, hit the nail and showed me this whole time I was being prepared for criminal justice.”

While Willems attended CU, she became president of the Student Government Association and interned for former Kentucky Sen. Kathy Stein. After graduating with a degree in political science, she interned at the Kentucky General Assembly, then with Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) in the House of Representatives.

In Washington, D.C., she became interested in the Federal Bureau of Investigation while attending George Washington University through a collegiate hiring initiative.

“With encouragement from family and friends, I made a quick decision to attend the interviews and that is where the process began,” she said.

She graduated with a master’s in legislative affairs, and joined the FBI soon after, transferring from political science to criminal justice.

“I have always felt God calling me to help people and the FBI presented opportunities to fulfill this calling,” she said.

Jeremey Hamilton took a different route to his criminal justice career as a work-study student at CU. To hone his skills, he started taking ride alongs with state troopers, shadowing an officer.

“I took one ride along with a state trooper and that’s all it took,” he said.

Billy Gregory (’92), Kentucky State Police public affairs officer, also became a role model for him to become a trooper.

“Going to CU and seeing Trooper Gregory do all the things he does and still be part of the KSP says a lot to me – even more now than then. He was an awesome resource to have,” Hamilton said.

Willems also said CU helped set the foundation for her career.

“Most of my preparedness came from Max Wise and Dr. Shawn Williams. They really encouraged me to do a lot of research and really think analytically, which really prepared me to do well in graduate school.”

Hamilton said the Lord blessed him to be able to attend CU and without that milestone he wouldn’t be a trooper.

“Athletics prepared me physically, classes helped me mentally, and the people on campus helped me emotionally.”

Campbellsville University offers a criminal justice associate’s and bachelor’s degree. There are plans to introduce a master’s in justice studies starting fall 2017.