The first course of action I am taking in order to make progress towards my global citizen scholar mission is enrolling in Blind Injustice: The Psychology and Politics of Wrongful Convictions. This honors seminar that I will be taking in the spring will allow me to explore my interest within the criminal justice field as well as aspects of the law. Mark Godsey, the professor for this course, is the co-founder and director of the Ohio Innocence Project that works within the University of Cincinnati’s law school to exonerate falsely convicted individuals. I have always been fascinated by the motion to free people from serving time for crimes they did not commit and how our justice system has both allowed this to happen as well as evolved over time. It is a goal of mine to get an internship through the Ohio Innocence Project and gaining the knowledge through this course as well as effectively communicating with Mark Godsey would help me achieve this goal. Attending law school is a possibility for my future, and actively participating in this course may aid in my decision on whether or not I further my education in that manner.

 

I will also make progress towards my global citizen scholar mission by becoming more involved with the Criminal Justice Society on campus. A plethora of opportunities are available for students to gain hands-on experience in the criminal justice field and explore future career paths. Many events are organized in conjunction with the local police department, allowing us to make even a small impact on the immediate community and speak with officers about their career. There are also a few opportunities to tour prisons near Cincinnati where we can see what life is like for incarcerated individuals and even speak to some of them about their experiences. The biggest event put on by the Criminal Justice Society is the Criminal Justice Job Fair that takes place in the spring. Here, students are able to meet representatives from countless companies and agencies that employ individuals with a background in criminal justice. This is a great way to explore the job opportunities that are available with a criminal justice degree and inquire about what employers are looking for in a job candidate. I will reflect on my progress in achieving the goals I set forth for myself by having my global citizen scholar mission readily available as to be reminded of what I aim to achieve and who I aim to become as a student at the University of Cincinnati.