The Institute

This morning I watched a webinar that was broadcast from Europe on cybercrime investigations and evidence. There is little doubt that globally cybercrime is a major issue. For anyone planning a career in law enforcement, law, homeland security, emergency management, and other related fields knowledge about cybercrime and computer systems will be an asset. Obtaining a major, minor, certificate, or even a few courses in this area may be a plus to any law enforcement career.

Last evening, I attended a presentation by a recruiter for the Central Intelligence Agency. There are many different job opportunities in the agency from analyst to truck driving. While the application process is very lengthy and difficult, there are things a person can do to increase the odds of getting an offer among the many thousands of applicants each year. 

He stressed that a high GPA is very important. While a specific major is not required, it is important to obtain a major in a field that will challenge you and develops your writing and critical thinking skills. Excellent writing skills that include the ability to structure, make and defend an argument are important.

Last evening, I attended a presentation by a recruiter for the Central Intelligence Agency.

He suggested some experience abroad is helpful. He did not make any specific recommendation of any specific type of travel or experience abroad. 

If you are looking for an experience abroad that provides a training seminar in security and terrorism, the Institute in conjunction with Security Solutions International is offering a training seminar on terrorism and security in the State of Israel. There is more information on this below.

Since I was Interim Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology during most of the 2022 – 2023 academic year, plans for a webinar series for the spring of 23 and fall of 2023 were canceled. On March 14 the Spring 2024 webinar series on Perspectives of the Israel-Hamas Conflict kicks off with
Jonathan Hessen a journalist and television anchor in Israel.

The first major activity of the Institute was a multiple-part series in the fall of 2020 on the pandemic. Panelists for the series were elected officials, public health officials, journalists, and others. The series was a great success for the institute. This series was followed by webinar series in the spring of 2021, fall of 2021, spring of 2022, and fall of 2022.

The spring 2021 series was a follow-up to the fall 2020 series on the pandemic. Many of the same guests participated. Perhaps, the biggest success was the fall 2021 series on the United States Supreme Court opinion in the McGirt case. The two-part series hosted various guests including the Presiding Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Tulsa County District Attorney, tribal leaders and judges, and others.

During the spring of 2022, the Institute produced a series on Global Security and Climate Change which highlighted a guest from Nepal. During the fall of 2022, the Institute produced a series on Actors on the
World Stage in Global Security, Comparative Justice, and Emergency Managers. This series highlighted a retired foreign service officer who was head of mission in Qatar and a retired Swedish Police Official.

Each of the series had remarkable guests and provided students and other members of the NSU community with interesting and informative conversations.

The Institute also organized and sponsored an immersive travel and education experience to the Middle East in May of 2022. Unfortunately, the pandemic caused this immersive experience to be canceled. Dr.
Jennifer Edwards and Dr. Rebekah Doyle are planning an immersive travel and education experience to Ireland for the summer of 2025.

The Institute is hoping to provide in the future many more interesting and informative experiences.