Guelph Grad Q&A: Alexandra Crowley
Double Major Leads to Criminal Justice and Public Policy Master’s
When Alexandra Crowley began her undergrad at the University of Guelph, she started in a general Bachelor of Arts , hoping to discover what she liked most. After taking a variety of courses, she couldn’t decide between Political Science and Sociology, so she chose to pursue a double major.
Although a double major may seem daunting, by the time Alexandra graduated from her undergrad in 2023, she loved her experience so much that she stayed at U of G to complete a Master of Criminal Justice and Public Policy, an especially exciting opportunity that allowed her to continue exploring political science and sociology through one comprehensive program.
Thanks to the incredibly kind and supportive professors, the program not only gave her the knowledge and skills she needed, but also the confidence to follow her passion.
Continue reading to learn more about Alexandra, including her current role as a police report entry clerk with the Peterborough Police Service.
Interview with Alexandra Crowley
Tell us about yourself and why you chose to pursue a Master of Criminal Justice and Public Policy at the University of Guelph?
My name is Alex Crowley, and I just finished my master's in Criminal Justice and Public Policy at the University of Guelph. I did a double-major undergrad here in Political Science and Sociology, and by the end of the four years, I wasn't ready to leave! I loved Guelph and wanted to keep learning and studying. I worked as a Research Assistant throughout my undergrad, so conducting my own research through a thesis in the CJPP MA program felt like an exciting and natural next step for me. Ultimately, I was awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master's (CGS-M) through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSRHC) and wrote my thesis examining Bail Supervisors' perspectives on the "catch-and-release" bail phenomenon.
I chose CJPP at Guelph because I loved the multidisciplinary perspective the program offered by incorporating courses in both Political Science and Sociology. I started my undergrad as a General Bachelor of Arts major and took a variety of courses to learn what interested me most, and I ended up doing a double-major in Political Science and Sociology as I couldn't decide which one I liked better. By the time I graduated from my undergrad I still loved both, and the CJPP MA allowed me to continue studying these disciplines through one great program.
What did you like most about your program? Is there anything in particular about the courses or professors that stands out to you?
It's hard to pick just one thing I liked most about the Criminal Justice and Public Policy program. It was fascinating to learn more about the criminal-legal system, and I was grateful to have been given the foundation for educated discussion on justice and policy, both inside and outside of the classroom. With the small class sizes of the MA program, it was always interesting to hear the varied perspectives of my peers, which helped to broaden my own perspective. The CJPP professors were always incredibly kind, caring, and supportive of student success. They are each definitely experts in the courses they teach - as such, they were able to develop engaging and memorable course content. I think being passionate about the subject you are teaching makes for a much better learning environment for students and the CJPP professors definitely exemplified that! It was great to hear about their research work and learn from their expertise. I am still in contact with a handful of professors today and they continue to go above-and-beyond in supporting my success by writing me reference letters, helping me to publish my work, etc.
Did you do co-op? If yes, tell us a bit about your co-op job and your experience.
No, I did not do co-op, but I have heard great things and wish I had looked into it more in my undergrad! I did do a Work Study position with the Student Experience Department, and I loved getting to participate more in the administrative support side of U of G.
Where are you currently working and what is your role?
I am currently working as a Police Report Entry Clerk at the Peterborough Police Service. This involves inputting, retrieving, searching, and amending data in records management systems while maintaining effective communication with various members of the Peterborough Police Service and other partner agencies.
How did your degrees and time at the University of Guelph help get you to where you are today? How do the skills and education you gained help with your current work?
My time at U of G helped me to get where I am today by not only helping me discover what I was interested in, but also giving me the confidence and skills to pursue it. For example, my ability to understand, organize, and analyze various sources of data, statistics, and legal documents has directly helped me be efficient and accurate in my role. It has been fascinating to see the things I learned about in the classroom in a real-world setting, and my background in CJPP often reminds me to keep an open mind and look at things from a "big picture" perspective, rather than considering only one viewpoint or opinion.
What advice would you give someone considering your program or applying to the University of Guelph?
Do it!! I had such a hard time choosing a school/program before my undergrad and I am so happy I ended up at Guelph. Take it one step at a time and remember you don't need to have it all figured out, just enjoy your time in university and make the most of it. Everyone will tell you to get involved in extracurriculars, and it's true, extracurriculars can really help make your experience more enjoyable and valuable. But I would also say not to worry too much about what clubs you're joining and how many - just go with what genuinely interests you! One of my most cherished memories from my undergrad at U of G was my time on an intermural inner-tube water polo team. Most of my team knew very little about the sport (and we were not very good) but it was so much fun! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and try out new things - I believe this can give you a more well-rounded experience.
Bonus Questions
Where was your favourite place to eat on campus and what was your go-to food order?
I still miss Creelman Hall! Mongolian BBQ was a go-to for me, or checking out what they were serving at Exhibition - I tried so many new foods I now love that I never would have had the chance to try otherwise.
In your opinion where is the best place to study on campus?
In my opinion, you can never go wrong with finding a quiet place in the library.
What was your pre-exam ritual?
Go over my notes, have a friend quiz me, and get a good sleep.
What are your top 5 favourite things about U of G?
(In no particular order)
- The beautiful campus! Especially in the Fall or right after it snows. I loved the central campus community feeling of U of G, rather than being scattered throughout the city.
- The food, of course.
- The people. I met so many amazing peers, professors, and administrative staff at U of G that made my time there considerably more enjoyable.
- The wonderful city that surrounds U of G - Guelph is a great place to live.
- The diverse blend of programs - by having friends in various programs, I was able to see different research labs, meet cows at the dairy barn, and learn about so much important research happening at U of G.