MCA's Student Services Committee: Paving the Way for Future Corrections Professionals
Shannon Marks, Chair, Student Services Committee

There are many avenues people take to obtain a career in corrections. The MCA Student Services Committee significantly helped me on my path to a career in corrections and hopefully will do the same for other future corrections professionals. In 1999, as a senior in college, I attended the MCA Fall Training Institute in St. Cloud. I’ll admit I was pretty much clueless about how to achieve my goal of becoming a probation agent. I attended one of the student sessions which allowed me to meet various professionals in the field and they definitely helped point me in the right direction. I truly credit this guidance for getting me started on my path and for the past six years I have been a probation agent with the Department of Corrections. As the chairperson for the Student Services I have come full circle and truly hope our committee continues to provide the same guidance to other future corrections professionals.

The MCA Student Services Committee provides a variety of services to students seeking future careers in corrections. Throughout the year we offer a career fair, as well as scholarships to the fall conference, and committee members are willing to speak at colleges and universities to discuss corrections careers and issues.

The Seventh Annual Career Fair was held on March 28, 2007 at St. Cloud State University. This was a joint venture between the MCA Student Services Committee and the Criminal Justice Association of St. Cloud State University. Over 130 students from seven colleges attended the career fair and had the chance to meet with over 34 vendors from all areas of corrections.

Eighty-Five scholarships are offered for students wanting to attend the Fall Conference. Attending the conference provides students a wonderful chance to network with all the great people in the corrections field and attend relevant corrections training. There are also two breakout sessions for students during the conference, an orientation to the conference and “Breaking into Corrections” which is a round table discussion group with professionals in the field.

If you are attending the fall conference, stop and introduce yourself to any of the students also participating. You may have a bigger impact than you realize and remember someday they may be your future co-worker!

I would like to acknowledge the members of the MCA Student Services Committee: Amy Waibel, Chuck Ness, Chris Hansen, Rachel Miller, Nathan Miller, Jenny Quade-Fritz, Joe Seminari, Brent Schmidt, Joe Davis and Bob Sutter. The Student Services Committee is also seeking new members who have an interest in working with students, colleges and universities and other professionals in the field. If you are interested in joining or would like more information contact Shannon Marks at 763-241-8780 or at shannon.k.marks@state.mn.us.