Shelby Rothberg

Describe your dissertation, thesis, or capstone (if you completed one):

For my capstone project, I worked with the Intelligence Community Human Capital Office in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to conduct a survey of students at Mason. The survey that I created measured how familiar students were with the different agencies of the Intelligence Community, how they learned about employment opportunities at agencies in the Intelligence Community, and why students chose to pursue careers in the Intelligence Community. My study found that many students were learning about opportunities for employment through Career Services and that the most common reason students were pursuing careers in the Intelligence Community was due to an interest in a specific job position and duties. These findings, along with my recommendations, were shared with the Intelligence Community Human Capital Office to assist in the recruitment of college students into the Intelligence Community.

How did you choose your specific area of study?

During my undergraduate studies at Mason, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Law, and Society since I knew I wanted to work for the government. I greatly enjoyed my coursework during undergrad, which led me to participate in the Bachelors to Accelerated Masters program for Criminal Justice. These programs have helped me to obtain a better understanding of how our criminal justice system works, as well as allowed me many opportunities to work on projects with real-world impacts.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

My academic experiences in CHSS have helped me greatly in the pursuit of my career. Through my coursework and the connections I formed with my peers and professors, I was able to work on a variety of projects and internships that have given me valuable insight into working within the criminal justice career field. Some examples of these are researching prisoners living in solitary confinement, working with the Fairfax City Police Department to map crime in the city and make predictions about where and when crimes are likely to occur, and doing an internship at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Of which accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud?

The accomplishment during my time at Mason that I am most proud of was my capstone project on the recruitment of college students into the Intelligence Community. During this project, I was able to combine everything that I had learned in my program and apply it to my study. This culminated in my being able to provide the Intelligence Community Human Capital Office with recommendations for enhancing their current recruitment practices that will hopefully have a lasting impact.

I would also like to mention the many accomplishments of the Club Tennis Team during my time as both the Vice President and a member. I am so proud of everything the team was able to accomplish, including winning all three of our home tournaments and making it to the gold bracket of Sectionals.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career?

There are a few faculty members who made a difference during my Mason career and are a large reason why I am now able to pursue my dream career. The first is Dr. Charlotte Gill who is the Director of the MS in Criminal Justice Program and was my professor for my final capstone course. Dr. Gill was always encouraging me to explore my research ideas and offered support and advice throughout my time learning from her.

I would also like to mention all of the faculty and staff at the Writing Center where I had the pleasure of working during my time at Mason. The Writing Center administration created the most supportive workplace environment I have ever experienced, and I deeply enjoyed my time working with all of the faculty and staff and will greatly miss it.

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?

My advice to the incoming cohort of graduate students is to not be afraid to ask your professors for help and to try and form connections with them when possible. The professors at Mason are full of valuable knowledge and advice, and they are always more than happy to share with interested students. You never know what types of amazing opportunities can come from a conversation with one of your professors.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

Currently, I am about to begin working at the Department of Justice. My long-term career goals are to continue working for the Department of Justice for a few years before moving into the private sector.