John Watts ‘13 considers himself a lifelong learner. Now an esteemed criminal justice professional with 18 years in the industry, he admits his journey reaching this point in his career was not always smooth sailing.
After 10 years of trial and error with different schools, John completed his bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Science at Charter Oak State College in 2004. He built his resume working for the State of Connecticut as a Probation Officer for about a decade before making the decision to earn his master’s degree. Reflecting on his undergraduate experience, John knew he needed to find an institution that would be flexible with working adults and ease the transition back into the classroom. He found the balance and support he needed at Albertus.
“[At previous institutions] I felt like there was no engagement and I was just a number. But Albertus holds you accountable, in a good way. You feel a part of the community.”
On top of his desire to continue working in criminal justice, John also wanted to be a teacher and conduct research. These desires made the Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership Program (MSMOL) a perfect fit.
Professors such as Dr. Howard Fero were crucial in John’s success at Albertus. He was able to connect and relate to the lineup of faculty equipped with real-world experience. John says he loved the MSMOL program so much, he recommended it to his brother.
“The program really got you thinking about what skills and education you can apply and bring back to your organization. Albertus really helped me propel into the academic environment.”
After earning his MSMOL in 2013, John is just one year away from retirement as a Probation Officer while teaching as an adjunct professor at Gateway Community College, and pursuing his Ph.D.
It wasn’t just the subject matter that John brought back to the workplace, but the teaching methods too. Albertus taught him how to tailor education to the individual needs of his students at Gateway.
When asked about what is most rewarding about his career, he stresses what he calls the ‘little breakthroughs.’
“It’s not a home run, but you make breakthroughs. It could be someone getting a job, someone not getting re-arrested, successfully getting off probation.”
John never underestimates the impact and value of being kind. After seeing a recent individual get off probation, he kept in touch with encouragement.
“I just kept texting him even after he was off probation. I love to get to that point where someone doesn’t have to report and have that stigma hanging over them. For me, just telling someone ‘hey, I’m proud of you’ goes a long way. For me to be nice and kind to someone, it doesn’t cost anything. Nobody in their lives tells them ‘good job’ and to me, it’s nothing, but to them, it goes so far.”
His advice to our Black Alumni of tomorrow who want to pursue a career in criminal justice and make a difference in the system? Use your well-connected professors as your resources.
“Don’t be afraid to just reach out and email your professors. Albertus is strategic in who they hire because of the network that they bring to the students.”
When it comes to making a difference within our community, John says there are always opportunities to get involved, donate, volunteer, and give people encouragement.
“The criminal justice system is a very complex system, but we don’t have all the resources. All we can do is chip away at those long-term problems that arise.”
Above all, John says stay committed to your goals, no matter the obstacles you face along the way.