The Center for Law, Society, and Justice (CLSJ) is home to the legal studies major, the criminal justice certificate, and as of this fall-the certificate in law and humanities. Through these programs, CLSJ provides an exciting and cutting edge liberal arts education across traditional disciplines, focusing on law, legal processes, legal thinking, and legal institutions and how they operate in society. Since our founding, we have believed that learning, especially when it concerns legal actors and institutions, cannot and must not be confined to the classroom. This is why a mandatory component of the certificate in criminal justice is the field experience that engages students in a variety of areas including those focused on criminal and juvenile justice, mental health, social justice, substance abuse disorders, youth initiatives, prevention programs, legal representation, policing, community corrections, and programs that address victimization.
Why We Need Your Support
This year, your gift will support students who face financial barriers to pursuing their education, including those who are participating in unpaid internships during the academic year. These students often struggle because they must reduce the hours they can work for pay. Your donations will enable students to fully participate in the internship experience and focus on what is important: learning. Your gift will help us ensure that all our students are full participants in our community, creating opportunities for them so that they can go on to fulfilling careers in the world of law and justice.
We set up this fund to honor Carolyn Lesch ’91, MS’92, an instrumental and beloved adviser who is now retired but still a champion of our programs. Carolyn created and taught Legal Studies 694 Field Observation in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. This course is taught every semester and students enroll in it at the same time they are interning to get support during their internships and to earn academic credit.
We thank you greatly for your support! Gifts of any size will have an impact on our students’ lives.