Criminology and criminal justice career exploration conference draws 200 students, highlights diverse job paths

Nearly 200 students from Wayne State University and area community colleges gathered Feb. 18 at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center for the third annual Career Exploration Conference, an event designed to showcase career paths and professional opportunities tied to criminal justice and related fields.

Organized by the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the event featured a dual-track panel format with 40 professionals participating in 10 themed sessions. Topics ranged from federal and local law enforcement to youth services, intelligence, crime analysis, investigations and corporate and nonprofit careers.

The conference—previously known as Pathways—aimed to help students navigate key questions about career planning, such as “What can I do with my degree?” and “How do I reach my career goals?” Organizers said the event successfully connected students with a wide range of alumni and industry experts, providing first-hand insight into real-world roles across sectors.

In addition to panel discussions, students explored opportunities at a campus resource fair, which included representatives from the WSU Graduate School, Law School, Career Services and Academic Success Center. A professional photographer was on-site to provide free headshots and therapy dogs from WSU’s STELLA Labs offered a dose of stress relief.

The event was made possible through the efforts of faculty, staff and volunteers and was sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Organizers plan to continue the conference annually, expanding its reach and resources for students seeking clarity on their career paths.