A Different Look At Criminal Justice | Geneva College
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A Different Look At Criminal Justice

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Geneva College’s Criminal Justice major was established in 2014 and began classes in 2015. The first criminal justice professor hired: Dr. Mildred Johnson.

Dr. Johnson came to Geneva with a wealth of knowledge, experience in the field, and a deep passion for her work. Becoming a professor is not the path Dr. Johnson expected, but has found it to be her life’s calling.

Dr. Johnson’s first interaction with Geneva was as a student. After completing a rigorous certification program through Harty Bible School, she continued to the Associate’s Program at CUBM, Geneva’s Center for Urban Biblical Ministry. She then went on through Geneva’s Adult Completion Program to receive her Bachelor’s in Community Ministry.

“I loved that all of my professors were well-grounded in their faith. The professors made a huge impact on my life. They made such an impact that I decided to stay at Geneva to complete the MSOL Program (Master of Science in Organizational Leadership).”

Dr. Johnson found her professors to be truly invested in the success of their students.

“There was not dropping or failing. I was always supported, pushed, and set up to succeed.”

Besides Dr. Johnson’s education, she also has 15 years of experience as a police officer in East Liberty. After being injured, she had to retire in ’03. It was right after her retirement when she began the MSOL program at Geneva.

At this point in her journey, Dr. Johnson was working in the human services field and was considering attending seminary. Although seminary was top of mind, God made it clear to her that He had a different path in mind.

“I ended up at Regent University for my doctorate in Strategic Leadership. Geneva gave me such a solid foundation in Christ that it made my 4 years at Regent so much easier. I grew up in a Christian home, and my dad was a pastor, but the education at Geneva pushed my faith even further.”

Pursuing her doctorate at Regent was a leap of faith, full of unknowns. Teaching was not on Dr. Johnson’s radar at the time, and although her future was uncertain, she was certain God would come through.

“On the day I graduated from Regent I called my two mentors from Geneva. They immediately told me about the new Criminal Justice Department and the professor position and encouraged me to apply. My answer was no. They pushed me, and thankfully, I listened.”

Dr. Johnson applied and has been teaching criminal justice at Geneva ever since.

“I am so thankful for the mentors God put in my life and that fed into me. Without them I would not be here.”

Dr. Johnson has helped grow and shape the department and criminal justice major over the years. The curriculum interacts with biopsychology, psychology, and social services, giving students a full understanding of social interactions and the things they will experience in the field.

Criminal justice is not an easy field or area to teach.

“There are a lot of things in criminal justice that are not good. I am transparent about this with our students. I make sure they hear the good and the bad, because that is what they will encounter. We talk a lot about being change agents. The world is fallen, the situations we step into our fallen, but we take Christ into those situations with us. People are people. People are broken. Law enforcement is given power and authority, and there are some that shouldn’t have it. But our students can walk into that authority with light and hope.”

Another part of criminal justice Dr. Johnson is passionate about, and is a unique aspect of Geneva’s criminal justice curriculum, is restorative justice.

“We look at the restoration, reconciliation, forgiveness, and transformation, not just incarceration and justice. All are needed for holistic criminal justice. My Restorative Justice course looks at healing for both the victim and the offender. There are currently more jails and prison than there are schools. People are hurting, and stepping into that with a biblical worldview and holistic approach is necessary to act as that much-needed change agent.”

During her time as a police officer, Dr. Johnson worked a lot with community policing initiatives adopted in the early 2000s.

“We worked to give citizens a voice, work with the community- not us vs. them, got to know the businesses, schools, churches, youth, and people in the community. Our goal was to truly know the people we were serving and be seen in the community. This side of criminal justice is extremely important.”

In addition to her education through Geneva and Regent, Dr. Johnson also went back to receive her Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration at Point Park University. Dr. Johnson’s expertise and heart for her field is evident in her care for students, curriculum design, and conversation.

“I love my students. That is what keeps me going. To see them be lights in our dark world and be those change agents is priceless. We get a lot of feedback about our students at internships that says just that- ‘They were such a light.’ I am so proud of them it hurts. That God allows me to be in their lives is a blessing.”

We are thankful for Dr. Johnson’s dedication to her work and her students. Dr. Johnson is one of the many leaders and change agents at Geneva College working for the service of God and neighbor.

Mar 10, 2023

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