By STEPHANIE MOJICA
Stephanie.Mojica@newsandtribune.com
March 25, 2008 10:43 am
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About 60 Ivy Tech Community College Sellersburg campus students are now majoring in criminal justice, as the second semester of the new degree program is under way.
In August, the college’s administration named criminal justice professor Leonard Gardenour chair of a new associate’s degree program. Gardenour selected only those who have actually worked in the field to teach classes, including Clark County Superior Court No. 1 Judge Vicki Carmichael.
Gardenour — who not only supervises the program but also teaches four classes within it — said when he was studying for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he was usually taught by “professional students” who had not worked in the field. He wanted to avoid that at Ivy Tech.
“I did learn, but wanted my students to be taught by those who have worked in careers they may be interested in,” Gardenour said.
He retired as a Louisville probation officer after 20 years and also spent eight years in with the U.S. Air Force Security Police. In addition, he also served a year as a Houston police officer.
He joined the faculty at Ivy Tech shortly after his 2005 retirement. Gardenour earned a bachelor’s degree in forensic studies from Indiana University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University.
An important element of the criminal justice courses — which attract about 140 nonmajors each semester — is guest speakers. In a recent introduction to law enforcement class, taught by Gardenour, New Albany Police Department Maj. Sherri Knight was one of the speakers.
Knight is the highest-ranking female police officer in the history of the department. Only the assistant chief and chief are higher in rank. Retired NAPD Sgt. Ellen Keeton — the first woman to ever be a patrol officer in the department — also visited the class as a speaker. Gardenour said this was to tie in a recent lesson on women in policing.
“We’ve come a long way in a short amount of time,” Knight said.
When Keeton first joined the force in 1972, her uniform consisted of a skirt and she was usually working in the radio room. With determination and a dedication to education, Keeton eventually earned the respect of other members of the force. By the time she retired, she had worked as a detective and a shift sergeant.
“It was a completely different world then,” Keeton said.
Women in policing is still a rarity, with only five of the 60-some member NAPD being female, Knight said. However, she said laws and a more evolved culture have helped most men hold greater respect for female officers.
“You still have to earn that respect,” Knight said.
Some of Gardenour’s students want to become police officers. Others would like to work in probation and a number of other areas in criminal justice.
In addition, some will likely pursue transferring into bachelor’s degree programs at Indiana University Southeast and other area colleges. Courses toward the Ivy Tech associate’s degree can be accessed through traditional classes or through the Internet.
Melissa Kinard of Clarksville already holds a nursing degree, but is pursuing another in criminal justice so she can switch her career to forensic nursing. That field involves work such as collecting DNA evidence from sexual assaults through “rape kits.”
“I like the diversity of the instructors we have,” Kinard said. “We’ve had a lot of interesting guest speakers.”
Gardenour said a host of related extracurricular clubs and activities are being planned, which also will incorporate community professionals becoming involved. He said preparation for the Criminal Justice Student Association is almost complete, and will offer social, volunteer and networking opportunities for members.
Sarah Whitlow of Greenville is the daughter of NAPD Capt. Keith Whitlow. She hopes to follow a slightly different career track from her father and work in emergency management and homeland security.
“One day there’s going to be a huge storm or disaster and I think it’s our responsibility to try to be part of a solution,” Whitlow said. “That’s why the accredited teachers we have here at Ivy Tech are so important.
“I am learning so much more than I would if I just took a class online, or from someone who has a lot of technical knowledge but lacks hands-on experience.”
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