Student Organizations

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLUB 

The Criminal Justice Club at Seattle University is a group of students interested in and dedicated to the criminal justice process, system, workings, and issues. Through engaging with faculty and the community and each other, students can learn about the system nation wide, and especially here in Seattle. The club offers multiple avenues into the professional world through tours, meet and greets, brown bag lunches, speakers, networking events and more. The club also offers social events to get to know your other club members. These include study break movie nights (often with crime drama movies) around finals each quarter and our annual silent auction. 

CJC is also dedicated to being an active member with the SU community and the greater Seattle community. The club enters in charitable and awareness events such as Dance Marathon and Relay for Life. The club often partners with the Criminal Justice Honors Society (APS) for events and service like the Juvenile Detention Christmas Drive each winter. The club provides opportunities for leadership and service in the community and allows us reserved spaces in campus safety events like the Night Walk or helping Public Safety with officer tests. We strive to make the club a worthwhile and meaningful avenue to like-minded individuals, the faculty, and the professional world. We hope to see you soon!

Officers

JT Melbourn (President)

I’m JT! I’m a senior majoring in Criminal Justice and specializing in Forensic Science. I’m from San Diego, where I love surfing, camping and spending time with friends and family! In Seattle, I like to go bouldering, hiking, and snowboarding! I’m so excited to be the President of CJ Club!

Danielle Miller (VP)

Hi! My name is Danielle Miller (she/her) and I’m a third year Criminal Justice (forensic psychology specialization) and Spanish double major! Aside from being the club VP, I’m also on our school’s improv troupe, D1! In my free time, I love exploring new restaurants around Seattle and hanging out around campus! I can’t wait to meet all of you!

Amy Gifford (Treasurer)

My name is Amy Gifford, I use she/her pronouns, and I am a senior majoring in criminal justice with a specialization in forensic science and a minor in chemistry. I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but consider Seattle a second home. I am passionate about social justice and am a huge sports fan.

Katy Gorski (Secretary/PR/Photographer)

My name is Katy Gorski, and I am the new Secretary, PR, and Photographer for the Criminal Justice Club for the 2021-2022 school year! I am a rising Junior at Seattle University and am currently double majoring in CJ and Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology. Some fun facts about me are that I love Thriller books and I have two dogs named Taffy and Luna. I can't wait to be involved in the club this year and to plan some amazing events for everyone!

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Brooke Gialopsos, Assistant Professor

Membership Detail

To be a member you must apply and pay the one time membership fee of $20 and fill out the membership CJ Club Application. You can fill out the form and submit your fee in cash or check (please make checks out to Criminal Justice Club) to any officer or to the CJ Dept. Administrative Assistant in Casey 330. All academic majors welcomed.

Questions can be directed to: JT Melbourn

The Pi Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma

Students in the criminal justice field, we find it important to integrate our academic experience with real life experiences. We accomplish this by offering a range of volunteer opportunities to our student body, which will assist them in getting the experience that they need to become competitive in their field. We also offer guest speakers in a wide range of fields that will help guide our students in achieving their career goals. 

The Pi Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma is aimed at serving the students and helping make their academic experience a positive one. We do this by holding activities outside of school, so that we can get to know each other better.

This brochure discusses some of the perks of membership including scholarship/award/grant opportunities, conference opportunities, and benefits in the hiring process for federal positions.

Officers 

Shannon Christensen (Co-President)

Hi all! My name is Shannon and I am going to be one of your co-presidents for this year! I am currently in the second year of my master's degree and hoping to graduate in June of 2022 with my MA. Currently getting ready for the real world, I am in the middle of applying for Ph.D. programs and deciding whether or not I would like to pursue even higher education, or if I would like to get working. My current passions are in corrections reform and prisoner advocacy, in ensuring that although people are convicted of a crime, their basic human rights are met within custody. I am currently in the process of writing my Master's Thesis evaluating the prison policy response to COVID-19. Right now, I am a research assistant with the MCPP program, working with the Seattle Police Department on evaluating their policing plans and responding to individual communities' needs. In most of my days on campus, you can find me in the Center for Student Involvement working with the Student Events and Activities Council (SEAC) as the Executive Director, please let me know if you have any ideas for on-campus events. If anyone has any questions about the MACJ program please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Olivia Geeson (Co-President)

Hi everyone! I’m Olivia. I’m in my second year with the MACJ graduate program at Seattle U. Some areas of criminal justice that I find interesting are the intersection between mental health and CJ, psychopathy, and everything about the legal process (juries and prosecutorial discretion, especially). In my spare time, I love listening to podcasts, watching British television, and spending time with my husband, friends, and family.

Joslyn Wallenborn (Vice President)

Hi there! I'm Joslyn, the Vice President for the 2021-22 academic year and a second-year graduate student in the MACJ program. I earned my BA in Sociology with a minor in Law, Societies, & Justice from the University of Washington. I have worked in state service for twelve years and am currently in the Criminal Justice Division at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office where I provide legal support to attorneys and investigators, as well as hire, mentor, and supervise legal staff. In my work, I assist with sexually violent predator civil commitment filings, trials, and appellate cases. I also provide support to the Criminal Litigation Unit, the Statewide Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Unit, and the Homicide Investigation Tracking System (HITS), as well as human trafficking and wrongful conviction cases within these units. I am the 2021-22 Graduate Blume Scholar, have twice served as TA for The Psychopath, and recently published a co-authored chapter on the history of forensic psychology in a forthcoming text. Through my state service and academic research, I strive to advance scholarship and practice at the intersection of criminal justice and mental health.

Ciara Maryanski (Treasurer)

Hello everyone! I am Ciara Maryanski and I will be your treasurer for the 2021/22 academic school year and I am very excited to be in this position. I am a fourth-year Criminal Justice student Specializing in Forensic Psychology and also minoring in Psychology. I hope to further my education and go on to get my Masters and a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology. My ultimate career goal is to become a Forensic Psychologist, but I know for sure I want to end up somewhere in the Forensic Psychology field. Outside of school, I enjoy watching crime documentaries (with little to no reenactments as possible), figure skating, and exercising.  

I look forward to getting to work with the honor society this year and getting the pleasure to meet with all of you as well!

 

An Than (Secretary)

Hello! My name is An Than and I am the Secretary for Alpha Phi Sigma for the 2021-22 school year! I am a 3rd year undergrad student, double majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice with a specialization in Criminology. I aspire to be an active agent of change in the criminal justice legal system as either a prosecutor or a public defender. My ultimate goal is to make a difference in the mitigation of harm from the past War on Drugs and in the Juvenile Justice system. Outside of school, I enjoy listening to music, reading poetry, and doing art (though I have not had a lot of time to get back on it). I am looking forward to with the honor society this year as well as getting to know all of you.

Jamie Torres (Social Programming Chair)

Hey everybody!! My name is Jamie Torres and I am the 2021/2022 Social Programming Chair for Alpha Phi Sigma! I am a fourth-year undergrad Criminal Justice major with a specialization in Criminology and Criminal Justice Theory. I am graduating from SU the following Winter Quarter, which means I will have graduated in 3 years (very excited)! After graduation, I hope to attend law school the following fall quarter to pursue my goal. My ultimate career goal is to become a prosecutor in criminal law or immigration, but still open to other possibilities! Aside from school, I enjoy shopping, traveling to new places, going to the movies, and Disneyland! I also strive to become Elle Woods (my favorite movie)!! Can't wait to meet everyone and have an amazing school year!!

Ka Yat Paulina Hui (Community Programming Chair)

My name is Ka Yat Paulina Hui, but you can call me Paulina. I will be your Community Programming Chair for 2021-22. This is my second year in the MA Criminal Justice program and I am concentrating in victimology. I got my Bachelors degree in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University. After I graduate, I am hoping to be a probation counselor. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, they just need some guidance to walk back to the right path. Fun facts about me, I am a huge foodie, I love to explore new restaurants and enjoy good food! I love F•R•I•E•N•D•S and I will always quote the show. I have a lovely 10-month-old cat named Beans! She is sassy but cute. If you join the meeting on zoom, you will see her running around or join the meeting with us. I am so excited to work with you all and the honor society this year. Come say hi to me if you see me in person, or you can add my social media and connect virtually! 

Mandella Cesena (Social Media Coordinator)

Hi there! My name is Mandella Cesena, and I am your social media coordinator for the 2021-2022 school year. I am a senior in the Forensic Psychology program and look forward to a career in psychological assessment & the courtroom. After graduation, I plan to get research experience before embarking on my master's degree and eventually a Ph.D. program. This field is so exciting, I’m not certain exactly what career path I would like to take but working with violent offenders and court proceedings is my general goal. Outside of academics and constantly reading about crime, I enjoy spending time with my friends, working out, and painting. I even have an Instagram for my art for friends & family! I’m really excited to be a part of Alpha Phi Sigma's Pi Delta chapter and work with our great team!

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Brooke Gialopsos, Assistant Professor

Questions can be directed to Shannon Christensen and Olivia Geeson

Membership Detail

If you are an undergraduate student, the requirements for membership are: 1) having a major or minor in criminal justice/criminology, 2) completing three full time semesters/quarters, and 3) having a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (for both your overall and major GPA).

If you are a graduate student, the requirements for membership are: 1) pursuing a master's in criminal justice/criminology, 2) completing four courses, and 3) having a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. If you were inducted into Alpha Phi Sigma at another institution, then just complete this quick form to change your membership to our institution and local chapter. 

If you meet these requirements and would like to join the organization, please follow these steps:

  1. Complete an application for the national application and pay the one-time fee of $70 (money order or cashier's check made out to: Alpha Phi Sigma OR you can elect to pay electronically). Also, you do not have to add that extra fee for online only courses. That does not apply to SU.
  2. Complete an application for the local chapter (Pi Delta chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma) and pay the one-time fee of $20 (money order or cashier’s check made out to: Seattle University Criminal Justice Honor Society OR you can elect to pay electronically). 
  3. Email Dr. Brooke Gialopsos your completed applications and let Dr. Gialopsos know if you want to pay electronically.

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