Criminal Justice Transformation Discussion Scheduled at Park University, Featuring Women Leaders
On April 5, 2023, Park University is hosting a significant roundtable event titled "Women Transforming Criminal Justice." This event, sponsored by the University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Department of Criminal Justice Administration, aims to celebrate and discuss the critical role of women in the criminal justice system.
The roundtable features 10 women from the Kansas City region, each an accomplished figure in their respective criminal justice-related fields. Notable participants include Kaitlynn Donnelly, J.D., assistant prosecuting attorney in Platte County, Mo.; Tiffany Leuty, J.D., 7th District defender for the Missouri State Public Defender; Regina Funk, treatment court manager for the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Clay County, Mo.; Maj. Kari Thompson, commander of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department's Community Engagement Division; and Zim Schwartze, chief of the Missouri Capitol Police.
The discussion aims to educate attendees about the underrepresentation of women in criminal justice and hopes to strengthen research that demonstrates the importance of improving this representation. The event will focus on women who have "broken the rules" and have become successful within a culturally and socially non-traditional career field.
The roundtable will explore cultural strongholds that predict and dictate career and academic paths for women, with a particular emphasis on the Kansas City region. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the Parkville Campus. The last hour of the roundtable will provide attendees with the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.
Other notable participants include Sandy Karsten, director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety; Carol Getty, Ph.D., professor emerita of criminal justice administration at Park University and former chair of the U.S. Parole Commission; C. Ann Mesle, J.D., retired 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mo., judge and former member of Park University's Board of Trustees; Sgt. Savana Watkins, a Park University junior majoring in criminal justice administration/corrections and an employee of the Missouri Department of Corrections; and Sgt. Bobbie King, administration bureau operations in the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
The event is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. For more comprehensive details about specific panelists and their roles, you may need to consult the official event or organizational websites hosting these panel discussions or contact the KC Chamber or relevant criminal justice associations directly.
- In the realm of education and self-development, it may be beneficial for individuals to learn about the experiences of women who have thrived in non-traditional career fields such as criminal justice, as presented at the roundtable event hosted by Park University.
- For those interested in women's health and wellness, the roundtable event at Park University could offer insights into the challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system, and how these women have overcome those challenges to succeed in their careers.
- The roundtable discussion at Park University not only offers an opportunity for dialogue on the underrepresentation of women in criminal justice, but also provides a platform to discuss crucial financial aspects related to careers in this field, considering the participants come from different sectors and backgrounds.
