Alumni Spotlight
College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Spotlight Series
July 24, 2024
Tracy Hawkins
- Tell us about yourself!
My name is Tracy Hawkins and I recently graduated with my MS in Criminal Justice in May 2024. I received the Knowledge Ambassador in Criminal Justice Award, much to my surprise.
- How would you describe your experience at A&M-Central Texas? My time at A&M-Central Texas was the most memorable phase of my life, besides our marriage and birth of our children. My favorite part about my time here would have to be the amount of academic and personal growth I obtained within the past two years. All my professors were so amazing, genuine, and really showed how much they care about their students, just one of the many reasons I applied to A&M-Central Texas.
- How do you plan on using your degree for career advancement/aspirations? As a previous Dallas County Community Supervision Officer, I accomplished many professional and personal goals. I gained much respect from individuals on my caseload while successfully assisting them with the necessary rehabilitative services. Unfortunately, medical issues began to arise that lead to a major setback. Once I began to significantly lose my hearing, unfortunately, I also lost my confidence needed to perform my duties. I took a step back to re-evaluate my future with the criminal justice profession. One thing that I never lost was the desire to help offenders navigate the labyrinth that we call the criminal justice system. I feel that my master’s degree will allow me, as an educator, to successfully shape the future generation of probation and parole officers. This graduate program has equipped my ability to do so. I cannot foresee what my future holds (potentially begin obtaining a PhD) however, I am certain that A&M-Central Texas has allowed me to take my passion even further; whether it may be teaching students or even entering back into the probation/parole field. Upon gaining my masters, I will prove that “those who can do, do; and those who have, teach”.
