As a top leader in one of Indiana’s largest police departments, IMPD Assistant Chief of Police Catherine Cummings (GradCert’13) knows her position comes with a lot of pressure. But the O’Neill alumna says that pressure extends well beyond her professional responsibilities. “When you’re one of the first women to do something, you feel it’s very… Read more »
Criminal Justice
Breaking barriers and shaping legacies: A Black woman’s journey in public service
Written by: Faith Odiete, O’Neill Indianapolis Criminal Justice major and MPA candidate As we celebrate Black History Month at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, I am compelled to share my personal journey as a Black woman entering the public safety field. My path has been shaped by the intersection of my African… Read more »
Internship keeps students on forefront of digital forensics
As O’Neill Criminal Justice major Nichole Reatherford walks into the crime lab, she starts checking bags filled with electronics—things like phones, computers, smart watches, and more. The devices are evidence—and she’s looking for someone’s digital fingerprints. “Everyone’s physical fingerprints are important, but our digital fingerprints are just as important,” she explains. She reads the case… Read more »
Caroline Bailey: Investigating slavery’s impacts on modern society
“It always starts with slavery,” says Caroline Bailey, an assistant professor at O’Neill IUPUI. Bailey studies the ways in which historical institutions and practices, such as slavery may be related to disparities within the modern criminal justice system and school settings—from race-based victimization to school suspensions and punishments. When she looks at her research and… Read more »
O’Neill courses carry alumni from classroom to career
Tenecia Waddell-Pyle (BSCJ’16) was still a police officer when her classes began at O’Neill IUPUI. Her mission to earn a college degree, set an example for her children, and prepare for a new phase in her career led her to O’Neill. “I’m always teaching my kids about follow-through,” she says. “In order for me… Read more »