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CJ Major Mike Gray Named PSAC Track & Field Championship Men's Field Athlete of the Meet
MU junior criminal justice major Mike Gray repeated as the discus champion at the 2009 PSAC Track & Field Conference Championships held at Millersville University on May 9th, and won the shot put as well on May 8th.
He also took 7th place in the hammer throw to earn a total of 21 conference points.
Gray becomes the first Mountaineer ever to win a individual title in two events at the PSAC Championship and the first ever to be named field athlete of the championship meet.
Michael Gray Continues on his Question for Second All American Title in 2009
Criminal Justice major Michael Gray got a little closer to his goal of a second All American title when he won the shot put with a NCAA provisional qualifying heave of 53-05.75 to highlight an impressive outing for the Mansfield University men’s and women’s track and field teams at the Big Red Invitational at Cornell University Sunday, April 25th.
Gray, who also finished third in the discus with a toss of 158-01, threw almost a foot further than his nearest competitor in turning in the longest throw in the PSAC so far this season.
Earlier this winter, Gray enjoyed a record-breaking season for the Mountaineer men’s indoor track and field team this year. A junior, Gray was almost unbeatable against NCAA Division II completion in the shot put while shattering the school record in the weight throw a combined eight times during the season.
Gray became just the third Mountaineer male athlete to capture a conference indoor championship winning the PSAC indoor title with a toss of 52-07.25 feet – more than 2 ½ feet better then the next closest competitor. He also earned All-PSAC honors by finishing third in the weight throw with a school –record throw of 55-03.75.
Gray was named the male MU Winter Athlete of the Year earlier this year. Last year Gray achieved All American status in the discus throw at the NCAA national Outdoor Championships.
CJ Major Drew Bair’s Most Important "Single"
Criminal justice major and senior infielder Drew Bair (Phoenix, AZ) undoubtedly hit his most important single of his collegiate career at Mansfield when he hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th inning in the second game of a doubleheader with East Stroudsburg, capping a big comeback to help the Mountaineers earn a split and the final play-off spot in the PSAC baseball playoffs.
Drew and the rest of the Mountaineer baseball team will play in the 50th annual PSAC conference baseball championships at the Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, PA, on Monday, May 4th at 6:30 p.m. against Mercyhurst College.
Senior CJ Major Alyssa Greenwalt Featured in Spring 2009 Issue of CROSSROADS Magazine
Senior CJ major Alyssa Greenwalt was the subject of a story entitled "Greenwalt opened the door for undergraduates at Mansfield" in the Spring 2009 issue of CROSSROADS, a publication created by students in Mansfield’s Magazine Writing and Production class. The story described how Alyssa Greenwalt became the first undergraduate student in the nation to be invited to attend The Academy Group's 'Violent Crimes Behavior' 80 hour seminar offered in Manassas, Virginia.
The Academy Group is composed of retired former FBI criminal investigative analysts (profilers) who now provide independent consulting and profiling around the world. Before Greenwalt was invited to attend, "students" normally attending the special two week seminar were profilers from around the world sponsored by their police agency, academics, and mental health practitioners. Greenwalt was recommended by MU criminal justice professor Dr. Scott Thornsley, who earlier was in The Academy Group's first Part I and Part II seminars in 2004 and 2005, respectively. According to the article, Greenwalt was the test case for highly recommended undergraduates.
Said MU professor of criminal justice, Dr. Scott Thornsley, "The fact is that if Alyssa had failed to function well in such a learning environment, then the assumption would have been that even highly recommended undergraduates were not appropriate. Alyssa did do well and her behavior made the staff at the Academy Group feel comfortable about letting other undergraduates attend."
2008-2009 Outstanding Senior & Outstanding Student in Criminal Justice
JUSTINE TAYLOR
Justine Taylor, a December 2008 Summa Cum Laude graduate, was nominated by the Department of Criminal Justice faculty as their choice for the 2008-2009 “Outstanding Senior in Criminal Justice.” This nomination allows Justine Taylor to compete with nominated seniors across the university for the award of “Outstanding Senior.”
Justine Taylor was recommended primarily because of her Summa Cum Laude honors, as she graduated with a 3.963 G.P.A., and her completion of Mansfield University’s Honors Program. Her independent research project for her Honors Program was entitled “The Need to Compensate the Wrongfully Convicted in Pennsylvania.”
Justine was also recognized for her being named the Outstanding Junior in Criminal Justice and the department’s Outstanding Student in Criminal Justice for the 2007-2008 academic year. In 2008 Justine was also honored with the Honors Program Book Award for the Highest QPA in the Senior Class and the campus-wide Mansfield Foundation Departmental Scholars Award.
According to Dr. Scott Thornsley, her advisor and mentor for her Honors Program, “Justine Taylor is hands-down the best undergraduate student I have taught in my 14 years of teaching at the undergraduate level, both at Mansfield University and at Troy State University. She is an excellent writer, and was capable of doing graduate level work during her junior year here. I have no doubt she will be successful at the graduate and doctoral level, and it would please me to no end if she were to apply for an academic teaching position at Mansfield before I finished my career here.”
Justine is currently living in Middletown, Pennsylvania where she is pursuing her graduate degree in criminal justice policy from Penn State – Harrisburg, and working for the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. Justice is awaiting word as to her acceptance into Penn State’s doctoral program in Law, Crime, and Justice, one of the nation’s leading programs in criminal justice.
CJ Majors Involved in December 2008 Graduation
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MU Alumni Association President Jerry Wood (MU CJA major, 1977), provided the “Greetings From Alumni” during the graduation ceremony. Wood is employed by the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. Here he is pictured with Tessa Bieber (MU CJA, May 2008) who is the student member of the MU Council of Trustees. |
Jesse Wolski Named to NCAA Division II Rookie Team
Freshman criminal justice major Jesse Wolski (Barker/Barker High School) was selected to the NCAA Division II Field Hockey All-Rookie Team by womensfieldhockey.com
Wolski, a freshman who played forward and mid-field, was third on the team in scoring with 9 points on two goals and a team-best 5 assists. Jessie was a major reason why Mansfield ended the 2008 season with a 7-12 overall mark and finished 4th in the PSAC West with a 3-6 record. This year Mansfield University Field Hockey Team had the toughest schedule among all NCAA Division II field hockey teams according to the NCAA.
Majors in Criminal Justice Tell Why They Are Happy at Mansfield
Each semester in Dr. Thornsley’s “Senior Seminar” class students have the opportunity to reflect on some of their experiences during their stay at Mansfield. Below are some of the reasons why our majors in criminal justice believe they made the right decision in coming to Mansfield and majoring in criminal justice... Read more.
Class of 2012 Enters Mansfield. Their First CJA Class: Intro to Criminal Justice
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Parrish Debardelaban comes from Pittsburgh where he was the City Champ in the 800 meters. He will run track at Mansfield under Track Coach Michael Rohl, who has garnered 5 All American awards for middle distance runners in the past 4 years. Parrish picked Mansfield over California University, IUP and Slippery Rock. Says Parrish about his stay so far at Mansfield: "I like [Mansfield] a lot. It’s fun. Cross country camp got it off to a good start." |
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Aaron Harris (background) graduated from Jersey Shore HS in 2008 but Mansfield was not his first choice as he wanted to study forensic psychology, but found his preferred school was too expensive. Instead, Aaron decided on Mansfield, as he heard Mansfield’s criminal justice program “was very well established.” Now, Aaron believes he made the right choice. According to Aaron, “the atmosphere at Mansfield is nice; the faculty seem knowledgeable, and the students are easy to get along with.” Imagine Aaron’s surprise when he discovered that Mansfield was hosting the nation’s most prolific writer (Dr. Kat Sean Kane, Elmira Free Academy, Elmira, NY. (Foreground). "I was looking at SUNY schools in New York. I liked the range in price [that Mansfield provided]. When I came down for a visitation I liked Mansfield. I liked that I could get a pretty good education here, just as good as a more expensive school. I love it actually. Last weekend there was a Madden Football Video Tournament; next weekend there is a Kickball Tournament; people are friendly. It’s easy to get around campus." |
herine Ramsland) - in the field of forensic psychology, crime scene investigation, forensic science, and serial and mass murder on Monday, September 29th as the “2008 North Hall Visiting Scholar.” Aaron was especially pleased that Dr. Ramsland will be making a one hour presentation on “Careers in Forensic Psychology.”
| Andy Desta. Sophmore. Queens, New York City. "My mom told me to go out-of state. I like it now. My life has slowed down. I joined Phi Beta Lambda [a business fraternity]. I started boxing last year – and I will be competing this year. Everything is cool." | |
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Josh Torres, Edison High School, Philadelphia. "I like it at Mansfield. [College life is] not like I [originally] pictured it. I wanted to get away from the city and see something new, to see a diversity of people, to challenge myself educationally." |
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Eric Eccker is the younger brother of Katrina Eccker, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mansfield University in May 2008 with a BS degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Katrina is currently attending law school at the Thomas L. Cooley Law School, ranked #16 in the nation by “Judging the Law Schools – 2007.” Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the U.S. as measured by full –time and part-time students enrolled.” |
"Matt Moroski Interns at Ocean City, Maryland Police Department"
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e to real world situations as opposed to just a classroom experience. This real life experience has prepared me for my career in law enforcement like no class I could have. “Rachel Boyll is Mansfield’s California Connection”
Rachel Boyll is a senior criminal justice and forensics major who lives in San Diego, California, but decided to come, and stay, at Mansfield University for her college experience. She has been the student worker for the Department of Criminal Justice ever since her first semester, freshman year.
Rachel can be found in the Criminal Justice Seminar Room, located in Room #210 Pinecrest, on Tuesdays from 9:00 – 12:00 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
While Rachel is not a tutor, she can provide general advice and guidance on course selection and availability of forensic science courses, and study advice for new students and old students alike.
Rachel is your typical university student – she holds down two part-time jobs (the second at Pizza Hut) and studies.
For her long time loyalty to the Department, Rachel is 1 of 3 CJA students selected to join Dr. Katherine Ramsland, the 2008 North hall Library Visiting Scholar, for a private dinner on Monday, September 29th.
Rachel says this of her Mansfield University experience: “It’s been very different, but I couldn’t have asked for a better college experience. I would not trade it for anything.”
Marisa Fronczkiewicz
Marisa Fronczkiewicz is a Senior Criminal Justice major graduating in December 2008. In her junior year at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, she represented the Criminal Justice Club in the 2007-2008 Homecoming events. She was crowned Mansfield University Homecoming Queen 2007-2008 in a campus-wide vote from the student body.
The Criminal Justice Club also elected Marisa Fronczkiewicz to represent the club for the Student Affairs Outstanding Student Award 2007-2008.
She is currently the President of the Criminal Justice Club, Vice President of the Campus Mountie Guides, Vice President of Cedarcrest Hall Council, a First Year Experience Peer Leader, a Residence Life Student Worker and a member of the Spanish Club. Other honors she has received at Mansfield University include Who's Who Amoung Students in American Universities and Colleges, Dean’s List Qualifier earning a Heartly B. Dean Scholarship, Mansfield University Track and Field PSAC Qualifier, Track and Field Scholar Athlete Award and a Residence Life Resident Assistant.
Marisa Fronczkiewicz also completed a summer internship at the White Haven Youth Forestry Camp #2 in White Haven, PA.
Anthony Root & Megan Wells
For those students taking CJA 1100: Introduction to Criminal Justice, the Learning Center has identified two students who can assist you in preparing you for your exams.
Anthony Root is a Psychology major who enlisted in the U.S. Army in late September of 2001 following the attack on the World Trade Center. Anthony, who served with the 82nd Airborne and the 10th Mountain Divisions, earned his Ranger tab in August of 2005 and served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Anthony states that “The transition from being a soldier to student was difficult at first; however after two years at Mansfield, I have slipped into the role. Mansfield University has been a positive experience for me and the VA has been great to me.”
Dr. Thornsley, who has had Anthony in several of his classes states that “…Anthony is a serious and focused student who has demonstrated that he knows how to prepare, both in the classroom and on the battlefield.” [Note: Anthony will leave the “big gun” at home.]
Justine Taylor
Justine Taylor was recently named the Department of Criminal Justice’s Outstanding Student for the Academic Year 2007-2008 and the Outstanding Junior for the Academic Year 2007-2008. Both awards are new starting as of September 2008. Justine received the Outstanding Student award for her role in bringing to campus in April 2008 Anthony Michael Green, who was wrongfully convicted for a rape and spent 12 years in prison before being exonerated through DNA testing in 2001. Justine received the Outstanding Junior award for having the highest grade point average among juniors.
Justine had quite a year in 2007-2008. In addition to the above 2 awards, she also received the Honors Program Book Award for the Highest GPA in the Senior Class, the Mansfield Foundation Departmental Scholars Award, and the Mansfield Foundation Scholarship Award.
This fall 2008 semester, her last semester at Mansfield, Justine will complete and present her senior honors program project entitled The Need to Compensate the Wrongfully Convicted in Pennsylvania. Her Honors project advisor, Dr. Scott Thornsley, introduced the topic of wrongful convictions to her Spring 2008 "Special Issues in Corrections" class where he discussed the topic of wrongful convictions and what Pennsylvania is currently doing to address the problem.
Finally, in the Volume #4, Issue #1, Summer 2008 issue of The Innocence Project in Print, Justine was interviewed for the article entitled “Building a Youth Movement, “ where she was quoted as saying “I think it’s especially important for young people to know about wrongful convictions because we are the next generation of police officers, lawyers, judges and lawmakers. The future of judicial and legislative system is literally in our hands.”
Justine says this of her Mansfield University experience: “My experience as a criminal justice student at Mansfield University has been extremely rewarding. The relatively small class sizes allow for considerable one-on-one interaction between the students and instructors. Professors know most of their students by name and are always very willing to work with them outside of a classroom setting if needed. Also, in addition to taking typical criminal justice-related classes, such as Policing and Corrections, I have been able to enroll in some of the most fascinating and unusual courses in the field, such as Serial Murder, Violent Criminal behavior, and the Green River killer. These unique classes will definitely give me an advantage someday in the work force. Mansfield University was the perfect fit for me, and I could not have been happier with the experience I received from the Criminal Justice Department.”
Justine Taylor
Justine Taylor, a senior Criminal Justice major and Honor student, orchestrated a presentation made by Anthony Michael Green of Ohio. Mr Green, a wrongfully convicted inmate, spent 12 years in prison for a rape he did not commit. This Spring at the Honors Banquet held on April 7th, Justine received Mansfield University’s “Honors Program Book Award for the Highest GPA in the Senior Class” and the “Foundation Scholarship Award.” Justine, a December 2008 graduate, has already been accepted at Buffalo State, Penn State Harrisburg and Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s School of Criminology to attend graduate school and study criminology. |
Megan Wells
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Criminal justice student Megan Wells, was honored with the “2008 Outstanding Achievement in the Study & Practice of Philosophy” award during the April 7th, 2008 Academic Honors Banquet. |
Josh Herman
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During finals week this Fall 2008 semester, most Mansfield University seniors will be “sweating out” taking their final exams. Not Josh Herman, who will be “sweating out” his first week of the 129th Cadet Class of the Pennsylvania State Police, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Josh started applying for jobs and taking exams during the first semester of his senior year.Alyssa Greenwalt
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Alyssa Greenwalt, a senior Criminal Justice student, is attending a one week seminar on violent crimes offered by The Academy Group Inc. of Manassas, Virginia. Alyssa was the first undergraduate student in the nation allowed to attend AGI's violent criminal behavior seminar in the summer of 2007 for a two week course. (The Academy Group consists of former FBI profilers.) |
1996 CJA Major Sworn into the PA House of Representatives!
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In January 2009 former Mansfield University CJA major Kenyatta D. Johnson (Democrat-186th Legislative District) was sworn into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the first time. Kenyatta’s legislative committee assignments include the following :
Kenyatta also holds a M.G.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government. |
MU CJ Alumni Reunited
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Col. Lee Richie (MU CJA Alum, 1976; U.S. Air Force, Retired), left and MU Professor of CJ Dr. Scott Thornsley (MU CJA Alum, 1974) share a moment before the December graduation. Col. Richie’s son Ryan graduated with a B.S. in criminal justice on Saturday. Col. Richie and Dr. Thornsley were best friends and brothers of the Lambda Chi Alpha National Social Fraternity while they attended Mansfield during the 1970s. Col. Richie has another son, Lee, Jr., also attending Mansfield, and also a CJ major. |
Justine Dickerson & Cody Clark
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July 2008Justine Dickerson and Cody Clark to Pursue Graduate Degree in Criminal Justice at Troy University. Justine Dickerson and Cody Clark, both May 2008 criminal justice graduates, will pursue their M.S. in criminal justice through Troy University’s (Troy, Alabama) on-line distance education program.
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Allen Krotzer & Donald Oechslin
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Allen Krotzer and Donald Oechslin received their degrees in Criminal Justice Administration earlier on May 10th 2008. Both Krotzer and Oechslin were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. Click here to read more. |
Jay Shaw
Jay Shaw (2006) graduated from St. Joseph's University on May 10, 2008 with a M.S. in criminology. Jay currently works for the Philadelphia Adult Probation/Parole Department. He writes to Dr. Thornsley "Thank you for challenging me, encouraging me, and supporting me."
