CCJ Alumni News

October 2019

Sara El Souki graduated with a BA in Behavioral Sciences with high distinction and was named Honor Scholar in 2019. She then entered the University of Michigan Law School as one of the "Leaders and Best." In law school, she is on the Michigan Law Review and has spent her 1L summer interning in the federal appellate judiciary.

Sara wrote, "UM-Dearborn was very kind to me. I am especially thankful for my professors and mentors for supporting me throughout my undergraduate career."  

 

 

Yasmeen Baydoun received her Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice, graduating with honors. Baydoun is now in her third semester of law school. Baydoun wrote "Thank you, Judge Shelton, for letting me become one of your first students in this lovely master’s program and thank you for helping me gain enough exposure to excel in law school. I cannot wait to see what my future holds."

 

March 2019

Former CCJ student Jesse Graffagnino is one of the Michigan State Police recent graduates and newly assigned troopers.  He is part of the class of 58 graduates from Trooper Recruit Schools in January 2017. 

Jesse graduated from Riverview Community High School in 2013 and went on to study criminal justice at UM-Dearborn.  He spent a year at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, which prompted his decision to work in law enforcement. Jesse will be returning to campus to finish his degree.

“I was active in clubs and sports when I was younger, growing up in Riverview, and police officers were my coaches,” Graffagnino said.  “So police had a very strong influence on me from a very young age, and I knew I wanted to give back to the community as it had given me.”

 

Sherita Jackson graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. 

She was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and she backed up the tenants of that organization by enrolling in the Criminal Justice Internship.  She was granted an internship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2013. 

After completing the internship and graduating in 2014, she was offered a career with the agency. Sherita is now an Operational Support Technician in the FBI Detroit Division.  She has a personal message to share with other students:

To work for the FBI was a childhood dream, of mine, to attend and graduate from the University of Michigan became a later dream, to actually have done it – is reality.  I continue to be a leader and encourage young people to write their own stories.  People tell me that wherever I go, I am always prepared.  Well, my reply is, “If you stay ready, you never have to get ready.”  Prepare yourselves and always stay ready!