High-achieving students from the criminal justice program will attend the Sixth Annual Maryland Consortium of Criminal Justice College Educators (MCCJCE) conference. This conference is held at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Public Safety Education and Training Center in Sykesville, Md., on Nov. 2 from 9:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m.

This is the second consecutive year that Stevenson students will attend and present at this conference. Richard Huberfeld, lecturer of criminal justice, is the coordinator of this event for Stevenson students. The conference examines criminal justice issues through a panel discussion, including prominent officials from juvenile justice, criminal justice judges and many others.

Students give 10-minute PowerPoint presentations on a criminal justice issue or concern of their choice to the panel. The presentation is followed by a question-and-answer session between the panel and the presenters.

MCCJCE offers an opportunity for criminal justice students to network, get experience presenting and expand their knowledge of the field in which they will be working.

“The conference administration was very impressed last year with the caliber of our students,” said Huberfeld. In fact, Stevenson students outnumbered every other college or university that attended. Huberfeld picks each students who is to attend, noting that he “looks for his best students” based on their GPA, their experience at Stevenson and their willingness to work.

Hillary Michaud, professor and chair of law and justice studies, explained that there is a great opportunity to network at the event. The conference attracts high-ranking officials in Maryland every year, including the police chiefs of Baltimore. She added that this event is an opportunity for Criminal Justice students to build relationship, gain connections with people in their field, and possibly get internships. It is also an opportunity for the Criminal Justice program to gain recognition.

MCCJCE includes breakout sessions and workshops, poster presentations, professional panel discussions, student presentations, and remarks from a keynote speaker.

“It was such a great experience last year… the speakers at the conference were fantastic,” said Michaud.  She added she is looking forward to this year’s conference.  The keynote speaker this year is Stephen Moyer, the secretary for Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

The conference is sponsored by the Maryland Consortium of Criminal Justice College Educators, a group of colleges and universities in Maryland that provide college credits to individuals training to be Maryland police officers and correctional officers.