The world of careers students can choose with a criminal justice related PhD, outside of academia, is growing. Currently, however, there is a gap in knowledge, resources and services that faculty mentors and their departments can provide to students who are interested in learning more about these alternative career spaces. As a result, many students must find ways to facilitate their own connections, scrap together information about available jobs from the litany of online portals, and learn to navigate a completely different hiring and negotiation process – one with which their faculty advisor may not have much experience. Students must do this while also navigating the pressures and stigma of making the decision to leave a university setting. For those who have navigated the move outside of academia and into “alternative academic” careers, these paths and jobs are not typically celebrated in the same ways as academia-oriented peers. This is likely not due to lack of support, rather it may be because there is no clear equivalent to the traditional research, teaching and service contract in the practicing world.
To address this gap in knowledge, support, and access, the DCS presents the Alt-Ac Workshop Series. The goal of this workshop series is to:
(1) provide important information to help interested students learn more about if these alternative academic spaces are right for them;
(2) build connections with practitioners with strong research backgrounds (including those with PhDs) across a variety of spaces, and;
(3) provide resources, materials and a support group for students actively navigating these career spaces.
For more information email Shannon Magnuson (smagnuso@gmu.edu)