Law and Justice

Alumni Spotlight


Michelle Bennett

From the April 2011 LAJ Alumni Newsletter: Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Bennett

1986 CWU law and justice graduate Michelle Bennett has worked for the King County Sheriff’s Office for 20 years. She presently serves as the police chief in the city of Maple Valley (a Seattle suburb). In 2007, Bennett started work on a program to focus public attention on the growing problem of electronic bullying in secondary schools....

Bennett has been recognized by the city of Maple Valley an an exemplary officer and police chief.... With an obvious enthusiasm for the job, respect for others, and sense of humor, she is highly respected both by her peers and by the citizens of Maple Valley.


Alex Straub

From the April 2011 LAJ Alumni Newsletter: Alumni Spotlight: Alex Straub

2001 CWU law and justice graduate Alex Straub is currently a military attorney (judge advocate) for the Washington National Guard, where he serves as legal counsel to military commanders and provides legal assistance to members of the National Guard. While he normally works in Tacoma, last year he was selected for admission to an LLM (master of laws) program at the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, which he is currently attending.


Emily Von Jentzen

From the Aug. 6, 2010 issue of the Ellensburg Daily Record: CWU grad swims length of Montana lake

After a long day in the water, Kalispell, Mont., swimmer Emily von Jentzen became the third person — and the first woman — to swim the length of Flathead Lake.

Von Jentzen reached the shore of Boettcher Park in Polson, Mont., at 10:49 p.m. July 17 after swimming for 18 hours, 26 minutes. Officially she covered 28 miles — although von Jentzen said the actual mileage is probably closer to 33.

Von Jentzen is a 2005 Central Washington University graduate who was active on the swim team. She worked at the Cone Gilreath law offices in Kittitas County for a year before starting law school at the University of Montana, according to family members.

Emily's blog of her Flathead Lake swim is still online as well.


Stephanie Druktenis

From the Feb. 9, 2010 issue of the Ellensburg Daily Record: Female cop is not just one of the boys

Stephanie Druktenis always wanted to be a police officer.

The inspiration comes from her mother, an Issaquah corrections officer, who taught her the basics of being not just a quality officer, but a quality person.

Druktenis paired that upbringing with a love for community, and found herself attending Central Washington University's law and justice program.

After spending four years in the program, Druktenis was familiarized with the local police departments, and was drawn to the Ellensburg Police Department in particular. 


Michele Johnson

McNair Scholar Michele Johnson Attends Criminal Justice Conference

Last quarter, McNair Scholars Program student Michele Johnson presented her criminal justice research at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Conference in San Diego with her mentor, Dr. Sarah Britto.

A scan of the full article can be downloaded.


Anthony "AP" Peterson

From the CWU Observer: Inspired student and BOD member fights for student's rights

Peterson, senior sociology and law and justice major, is the vice president of Student Life and Facilities on the Associated Students of Central Washington University - Board of Directors (ASCWU-BOD).

Peterson has been a key player in organizing the flash mobs and the upcoming student rally against budget cuts in Olympia on Feb. 15. A 22-year-old transfer student from Eastern Washington University, Anthony, or "AP" as his friends call him, has been more involved on campus in his one year here than most students are in four full years.

Peterson has been an intramural referee, worked at the Don and Verna Duncan Civic Engagement Center, held a leadership role in the BLack Student Union (BSU), is involved in the Washington Student Association, and is now a member of the ASCWU-BOD.


The Parke Creek Treatment Center

From the CWU Alumni Association newsletter: Wildcats Change Lives at Parke Creek Treatment Center

Young, troubled, and hooked—that's a fact of life for some kids in today's society. But an innovative partnership involving CWU's law and justice program and the Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration is helping to turn things around for youthful offenders.

Since 1981, the staff at Ellensburg's Parke Creek Treatment Center has been devoted to helping young men overcome addictions and develop the skills to make better life choices. The facility's counselors are all CWU alumni. In addition, director Steve Cordero is a law and justice lecturer.

Most of the counselors at Parke Creek began working as interns while completing their studies at CWU. The internship program began in 2000, when Cordero handpicked students from his classes for internships and mentoring opportunities at the facility.

A scan of the full article can be downloaded.

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