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Students with an interest in research know that an REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) can provide the boost their resume needs for entry into graduate school or the career field of their choice. Despite limited REU offerings in the social sciences, Lycoming student Alex Jones ’25, was able to secure a rare REU in criminology – the first from Lycoming College to do so – impacting the trajectory of their education and career.
The REU program is an opportunity that is much sought-after by college students across the country. Acceptance into the program means that a student will have an opportunity to participate in a research project in a meaningful way, while receiving support from a host institution in the form of a stipend. The program is extremely competitive and carries a high level of prestige that raises a student’s appeal to graduate school admissions and to the workforce.
“Our educational journey does not end upon graduation, but rather it is always a part of us.”
The Application
Jones first learned about the REU opportunity as a sophomore and immediately knew they were interested in applying, but had doubts about their qualifications. Kerry Richmond, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice and criminology, and Jones’ academic advisor, expressed confidence that Jones’ capabilities as a student and researcher would stand out. Lori Patterson, director of career and professional development, and Jones’ career advisor, was also a driving factor behind their application, walking them through the program and application process.
“I was a highly qualified student and my interest in research definitely contributed to my success, but it was those that supported me who gave me the confidence to actually submit two applications,” said Jones, who believes prior research experience with Richmond on the Lycoming County Recidivism Project strengthened their application by enabling them to highlight strengths in quantitative research, attention to detail, and a growing appreciation of social studies research.
Upon learning of their acceptance into the University of South Carolina REU program, “Disparities in the Criminal Justice System (DCJS),” Jones turned off their phone and jumped up and down in celebration – and shock – realizing they were one of only 9 applicants chosen from a pool of hundreds!
The REU
South Carolina’s DCJS program aims to introduce students to the prospect of graduate school and foster evidence-based practices among the next generation of academics, lawyers, policymakers, and practitioners within criminal justice. While on campus, Jones engaged with faculty and graduate students in research to address the role of race/ethnicity, class, and gender in explaining criminal behavior and understanding criminal justice practices.
Jones explained that the research focused on the potential connection between firearm violence in South Carolina and social determinants of health (SDOHs), which are non-health factors that contribute to an individual’s health status, such as internet access. Their research team studied the data spatially by placing data on a map related to firearm violence, demographics, SDOHs, and criminal justice variables. The paper Jones worked on has been submitted for publication.
As an REU student, Jones also attended lectures on topics such as ethical issues related to research and what to expect when applying to graduate schools. “These lectures strengthened my research skills and guided my thought process on graduate school and my career opportunities following graduation,” they said. “During our downtime, REU students attended planned events and spent time with one another eating meals together, shopping, and exploring the city of Columbia.”
“One of the most important takeaways from my REU experience was a newly-discovered interest in interdisciplinary studies and research. It’s important to become familiar with the manner in which one’s own discipline is interconnected with others,” they explained. “In addition, I have a newfound interest in the field of spatiotemporal research, or the connection between space and time, which is a valuable tool when examining the effects that specific locations — alcohol outlets, casinos, and smoke shops — have on the surrounding communities.”
Looking Ahead
Jones will graduate in Spring 2025 with a major in criminology and a minor in Spanish. They plan to pursue a career as a research analyst for local and state government bodies, or non-governmental organizations devoted to amending injustices within the criminal justice system. Although Jones considered applying to graduate institutions, experienced professionals advised that graduate school will continue to be an option down the road, affirming their belief that “our educational journey does not end upon graduation, but rather it is always a part of us.”
Augmenting their very impressive REU, Jones has secured several other research experiences, including a Joanne and Arthur Haberberger Fellowship to conduct spatiotemporal research to determine whether the location of medical marijuana dispensaries in Philadelphia had an affect crime rates. They also researched the diversion and abuse of medications used by veterinarians, with Julie Yingling, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice and criminology at Lycoming, helping Yingling analyze data, review published literature on drug diversion, and present the research at the Rural Sociological Society (RSS) meeting in Madison, Wis. As a graduate from the top 10 percent of their high school class, Jones was awarded a Wertz Scholarship of $5,000, which they used to fund the trip to RSS.
They were inducted into the criminal justice honor society Alpha Phi Sigma and were awarded the Holly Elizabeth Hurlbert ’97 Endowed Fund in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Prize for their paper, “The Victimization of Indigenous Women in the United States and Canada: The Legacy of Colonization and Systemic Racism.”
Outside of their criminology pursuits, Jones stays active by working as a peer advisor for the Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences, helping students write resumes and cover letters for job and internship applications.
The criminal justice-criminology department at Lycoming College focuses on understanding the causes and responses to crime and victimization, and advocates for a more efficient, equitable, and fair system. Extensive hands-on opportunities, intimate class sizes, and interaction with local and national experts provides students with a deep understanding of criminological theory, research, and practice. More information is available at https://www.lycoming.edu/criminal-justice/.