BU MET Degree Program Gives Parole Officer Vanessa Burns Transferable Skills, New Perspectives

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am in the MS in Criminal Justice, Strategic Management Concentration program. If all goes according to plan, my graduation date will be May 2022. I currently work for the Massachusetts Parole Board as a parole officer.

What compelled you to return to school and pursue a graduate education? What is your long-term objective?
I decided to come back because I want to take my career at the Parole Board as far as I can, be it as a director or board member or something else. I want to do what I can for the agency in any capacity and I believe having my master’s degree will help me get to where I am most needed. I also have a desire to teach. I have had some amazing criminal justice professors over the years, from Bunker Hill Community College to the BU MET BS in Criminal Justice program, and I would someday like to be that teacher for another student.

Why did you choose MET for your graduate studies? What set MET apart from other programs you were considering?
I loved being in the MET criminal justice program as an undergrad; I had a great learning experience here. There was never really another option for me, but the fact that the master’s program was offered online was really the selling point. I have virtually “met” a lot of criminal justice professionals through MET, and it has been interesting because I get to interact with them in a way that might not be possible in a classroom setting, especially in the current climate.

Have you been able to use faculty as a resource? Is there a particular faculty member who has enhanced your experience at MET? Who and why?
I have had the pleasure of meeting several members of the faculty through my previous work in the Department of Correction as many of them teach or have attended graduations [through the Prison Education Program] at the facilities I worked in. Also, as a MET undergrad, I always had faculty I could talk to or ask for their opinions. Lecturer James Matesanz and Dr. Mary Ellen Mastrorilli have been invaluable to me. Part of the reason I even pursued my master’s in CJ was because of Professor Matesanz. I told him that many colleagues advised me against getting another degree in criminal justice because it was pointless. Professor Matesanz steered me in the right direction and helped me make my decision. I had a similar conversation with Dr. Mastrorilli, and she suggested the Strategic Management program which was designed much like a Public Administration program (which I really did not want to do). Professor Matesanz and Dr. Mastrorilli worked in corrections, so I have an easy rapport with them.

Is there a particular course project that you would like to spotlight? How do you apply concepts you are learning in your courses at MET in your current job?
I know it is strange, but I’ve enjoyed the midterms and finals (weird, I get it). In Criminal Justice Policy and Planning (MET CJ 711) we had to highlight how equity is not “treating likes alike.” That was thought-provoking and eye-opening; people often equate equality with equity, but they are not the same. I have also utilized theories from criminology when conducting interviews.

Does the classroom environment offer opportunities to network or build industry connections with fellow students or with faculty?
As I stated earlier, the online aspect of this program has connected me with people from all over. I have interacted with police officers from New Jersey and Maryland, and another professional in California. In a traditional, in-person graduate program, you might come across a couple people from out of state, but in an online setting we are meeting a lot more people from a variety of places. The discussion questions also help us get to know each other as we must interact more than we would in a classroom setting. I have really enjoyed discussing CJ topics with people from other places and disciplines as their perspectives and lived experiences differ from mine in Massachusetts.

What is currently, in your opinion, the most valuable thing that BU MET provides you?
My friends in corrections and I often joke that if we left our jobs, we wouldn’t know what to do because we have no transferable skills. While in this graduate program, I have picked up knowledge about ethics, research, policy creation, etc. which are specific to criminal justice but can also be applied outside of it. Basically, I’ve gained transferable skills! Besides that, I also have new perspectives on fixing our system. A lot of criminal justice agencies across the country are under fire (rightfully so, in some instances) for poor practices, and in the classes I’ve taken, with people expressing a multitude of viewpoints, I have learned the problems are not insurmountable, there are solutions. I love that this program brings together people from different places, professions, and points in their lives (excuse the alliteration) and provides us with a blueprint for mending our flawed system.

I am nearing the end of this journey and I am very glad to have been able to learn and grow through this program. My parents and siblings have always supported me academically and if not for their encouragement I might never have finished my undergrad. My children Kayla and Khalil, and my husband have made finishing this program possible. They are my biggest supporters and the reason I do what I do so… THANKS GUYS, ILY!!!!