Last week we highlighted our SPA students that participated in the Research Poster Exhibition. Congrats to all the winners and honorable mentions of the 2026 Penn State Harrisburg Research Awards for Excellence in Information Literacy: Zoee Edmonds, Makayla Smith, Kadhem Aljabr, and Armil Djara.

On 4/23/2026, the Victimology (CRIMJ 407) class went to the opening of the “What Were You Wearing?” Exhibit located in the Madlyn L. Hanes Library."This exhibit features survivors’ stories from across the country, using fashion as a medium to challenge harmful narratives and raise awareness."

Penn State Harrisburg's Honors Program held their spring 2026 thesis presentations. This was an opportunity for the students to present their final honors research projects. Congratulations to the SPA students who presented this week: Bibiana Posada Flores, Makalya Smith, Kent Liu, & Angela Deras.

Penn State Harrisburg hosted a Research Poster Exhibition. Congratulations to all the SPA students who presented: Kate Bukowski, Brianna Ondishin-Ribon, Angela Deras, Zoee Edmonds, Jasmina Guaman, Esmeralda Hernandez, Maryurit Reyes, Victoria McQueen, Makayla Smith, Kadhem Aljabr, Armil Djara

Just another REMINDER of our upcoming event: 📣 Join us at the Pennsylvania Capitol! Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Public Affairs is hosting a Public Administration Graduate Programs Info Session right at the Pennsylvania Capitol. 🗓 April 30, 2026 ⏰ 3:30 – 5:30 PM Senate Majority Caucus Room

Join Mia Troutman (pictured) and Quinlyn Hoover for “Borders, Rights, and Reality,” a thought-provoking discussion on one of today’s most complex and controversial issues. Through a balanced and insightful lens, they will explore the intersection of policy, human rights, and lived experiences.

More students to highlight presenting at tomorrows CRIMJ symposium...... Connor Hodgson is a 4th year at Penn State Harrisburg majoring in Crim Justice with a minor in Psy. With an interest in issues related to law enforcement & criminal justice system, Connor offers an engaging perspective.

Let's not forget about all the faculty helping to shape the minds of the students presenting at the CRIMJ symposium. They too are busy doing their own research and publications. Check out their works by scanning the QR code below. #pennstateharrisburg #crimjsymposium

A huge shout out to all of our sponsors for the CRIMJ symposium. Scan the QR code below to see a full list of them plus more events details for tomorrow. #pennstateharrisburg #crimjsymposium

While you're watching our student presenters tomorrow at the CRIMJ symposium, don't forget to stop by and check out the Creative Prison Food event from 12:10-1:30 in The Russel E. Horn Sr. Spiritual Center.

Tomorrow, April 23rd is the big day! Student presentations at the CRIMJ symposium. Registration begins at 8:00AM. Scan the QR code below for a complete list of tomorrow's presenters.

Following our successful kickoff event last night, we are excited for our Meet and Greet with David Garlock tonight! Join us in the Oliver LaGrone Cultural Center at 5:45PM. #davidgarlock #pennstateharrisburg #crimjsymposium

We had a wonderful kickoff event last night, beginning with a Networking Workshop that gave students the opportunity to prepare for Thursday by developing and practicing their 30-second elevator pitches. We then transitioned to the panel, which featured a spirited and engaging debate.

Here’s a snapshot of CRIMJ220 students as they head into the final stretch of their journey. Curious how their podcast projects turned out? Join us on April 23rd to hear about their experiences, challenges, and successes. You won’t want to miss it! #pennstateharrisburg #crimjsymposium

Join us on April 23rd to hear from Peyton William Smith, one of our outstanding student presenters at the CRIMJ Symposium. Peyton brings curiosity, dedication, and a strong commitment to learning qualities that shine through in both the classroom and in his work.

Join us on April 23rd to hear from Park Bierbower, a 3rd-year Psychology major and proud U.S. Army veteran. Bringing both life experience and academic insight, Park offers a perspective shaped by service, dedication, and a commitment to growth. #parkbierbower #pennstateharrisburg #crimjsymposium

Students are gearing up for tonight’s Meet the Speaker event and tomorrow’s CRIMJ Symposium. After an engaging and spirited panel last night, the energy in the room carried over into moments like this picture. #pennstateharrisburg #crimjsymposium

Congratulations to Dr. Mallinson as he has been selected to be recognized as an author of one of the top three highly cited publications in 2025! The highly cited publication, "Artificial intelligence technology, public trust, and effective governance" was published in Review of Policy Research.

Congratulations to all our School of Public Affairs students who were honored at the Student Award Ceremony on Friday, April 17. A full list of awards and their descriptions can be seen here: harrisburg.psu.edu/student-awar...

It all starts today - CRIMJ Symposium week! Tonight is the panel discussion "Overcriminalization of Behavior" with Dr. Wright, Dr. Howard, and Dr. Lewis, moderated by Douglas Wann. 5:00 pm in Morrison.

On Tuesday, April 14th, several of our students joined with other Penn State students from across the commonwealth in Harrisburg for Capital Day, to advocate for more state funding for our institution. We are proud of our School of Public Affairs students representing Penn State Harrisburg.

Time for our next faculty spotlight. Meet Jennifer Gibbs.

It's CRIMJ Symposium week! Check out this student presenter. Quinlyn Marie Hoover is a senior planning to graduate in Fall 2026 from Penn State University. She will be presenting Border, Rights, and Reality alongside Mia Troutman at this Thursday’s CRIMJ Symposium.

Here's another CRIMJ Symposium student presenter to check out this week..... We are proud to recognize Abbigail and Luis, who will be presenting Policy in Action: Immigration. Registration for the symposium begins at 8:00am.

Criminal justice decisions are about to get very challenging. Expect ethical dilemmas that force you to rethink what “justice” truly means. Pictured is CRIMJ465, the ethics class bringing an ethical twist to law enforcement, courts, & corrections. Join us at the CRIMJ Symposium, April 23rd!

It's symposium week! Join us Tuesday at 5pm for our panel discussion on the Overcriminalization of Behavior with Dr. Wright, Dr. Howard, and Dr. Lewis. Then on Wednesday join us for a meet and greet with David Garlock, and on Thursday for the student podcasts and a presentation by David Garlock.

Not only do we have students presenting this week at the CRIMJ symposium, we're honored to have David L Garlock also joining us. A powerful voice in criminal justice reform and reentry advocacy whose story is as compelling as it is inspiring.

This year at the CRIMJ Symposium, we are welcoming students back not just as alumni, but as professionals, as leaders, as the very people they once dreamed of becoming. Watching that transformation… It’s hard to put into words. It’s a full-circle moment that reminds me why this work matters.

Another one of our Masters of Ceremony is Hope Samuel who will be supporting our zoom sessions. Hope, originally from St. Croix, USVI, is a dedicated pre-law student at Penn State World Campus majoring in Criminal Justice, with double minors in Crime, Law, & Psychology and Homeland Security.

Another presenter this week at our CRIMJ symposium is Madeline Hafer. Her presentation, “How Child Abuse Affects Incarceration,” takes a deeper look at the powerful link between early trauma and later involvement in the criminal justice system.

Check out this duo presenting at the CRIMJ Symposium this week. “Trapped and Traumatized: Isolation, Impact, and Recovery,” presented by Ariana Nogueras and Megan Ann Kosh. As first-year students, Ariana (dual major) and Megan are already building strong foundations for their futures.

Let's meet Mark Dukes who will be presenting at the CRIMJ Symposium this week. Mark will be delivering two engaging presentations. A Criminal Justice major with a minor in Biology; Mark brings a unique, interdisciplinary perspective that adds depth and energy to his work.

Over the weekend we introduced a few of our other CRIMJ symposium presenters. Let's meet them now! Kalyn Foster will present and then partner up with Diana Narvaez for a podcast entitled "Beyond the Sentence", an exploration of the causes, effects, and solutions of social integration after prison.

Check out this set of presenters at our CRIMJ Symposium next week.... Join us on April 23rd where McKenzie Grady and Dan Hehmeyer will be presenting on Polygraphs in the Criminal Justice field. McKenzie is a second-year student and Dan, will be graduating at the end of this semester.

Let's meet another presenter at the CRIMJ Symposium on April 23rd.... Join us & support Victor Ivan Torres & Mark Dukes as they present on “Expectations of Digital Privacy.” Victor, a psychology major graduating this May, begins the next chapter pursuing a master’s in organizational psychology.

We'll soon begin introducing you to the speakers for "The Overcriminiliaztion of Behavior" panel on April 21st as part of our CRIMJ Symposium, but first lets introduce you to the moderator of this event.....Douglas Wann. A Political Science major & president-elect of the Student Government Assoc.

The upcoming CRIMJ symposium has many positive impacts. "What has become one of the greatest highlights of this journey is the powerful bond and unwavering support these students have built with one another." Join us April 21st–April 23rd for a truly special experience at this year’s CRIMJ events.

Reminder: 📣 Join us at the Pennsylvania Capitol! Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Public Affairs is hosting a Public Administration Graduate Programs Info Session. 🗓 April 30, 2026 ⏰ 3:30 – 5:30 PM 📍 Senate Majority Caucus Room 🔗 RSVP on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/penn-state...

Meet our Masters of Ceremony for the CRIMJ Symposium next week. Join us on April 23rd for the CRIMJ Symposium, where Norah Lisa Singh will serve as one of our Masters of Ceremony, helping facilitate presentations from over 25 students showcasing their podcasts.

Join us on April 23rd & don’t miss Meria Bertrand’s engaging , “The Role of Family Support in Juvenile Rehabilitation,” featured as part of her podcast Support Matters. A Criminal Justice major with a minor in Psychology, she is passionate about rehabilitation and the power of community support.

Another CRIMJ presenter for our CRIMJ symposium next week...Let us introduce Lillian Zerbe, a standout third-year student at Penn State Harrisburg who continues to make the most of every opportunity placed before her. This year's presentation will build on her presentation from last year.

Join us for an engaging early morning presentation by Madisen Minney (pictured) and Alesia Rowe, titled “How Mental Health Impacts Effectiveness in Criminal Justice Careers.” This session explores the critical connection between mental health and performance in high-stress criminal justice roles.

CRIMJ Symposium next week! Let's meet another presenter! Join us for a thought-provoking presentation by Kaley Haldeman, titled “The Digital Tether.” Her work explores how technology shapes subjective & objective evaluations, & the ethical questions that come from our reliance on digital spaces.

Yesterday Penn State Harrisburg welcomed Rossana D'Antonio to speak on her award-winning novel "26 Seconds" and share her industry knowledge. We were delighted that she was able to engage with our public policy students while on campus.

Next up meet another CRIMJ symposium presenter......Sam Kazakavich. Sam Edward Kazakavich will be presenting on “Victimization Within Involuntary Commitment.” His work explores complex and often overlooked issues at the intersection of mental health and the justice system. Don't miss this! 3:45pm

Let's meet another presenter at the CRIMJ symposium next week..... Zoee Edmonds, with her podcast “Power in the Courts.” Zoee is a student who truly stands out from the rest. Zoee is deeply involved across campus. She kicks off the program at 9:00 a.m. sharp, don’t be late! #crimjsymposium

CRIMJ Symposium is next week, April 23rd! Let's meet the presenters... First up is Victoria Shanelle McQueen, one of the standout stars in our department, who has presented at the local, state, and national levels. Victoria will present on the School-to-Prison Pipeline, a critical & timely topic.

The Criminal Justice Club spent an incredible day at the Northern Dauphin County YMCA hosting a hand-on forensic science workshop! Kids rotated through interactive stations. It was such a fun and engaging way to introduce forensic science concepts while encouraging curiosity. #Crimjclub

Up next on our faculty spotlight...meet Emma Leonard Boyle.

Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Public Affairs is hosting a Public Administration Graduate Programs Info Session right at the Pennsylvania Capitol. 🗓 April 30, 2026 ⏰ 3:30 – 5:30 PM 📍 Senate Majority Caucus Room (156 Main Capitol Building) 🔗 RSVP on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/penn-state...