Faculty Q&A: Christine Secilia, Ed. D., Uses Her Law Enforcement Experience in the Classroom
Christine Secilia, Ed.D., shows a group of local high school students how to gather evidence during Point Park University's CSI Summer Camp in 2025.
"I think having a small group of faculty members, given the size of our classrooms, and our hands-on approach, makes us more accessible to you. We know our students by first name because of our group sizes, and we're here to get you through it, all the way to the end."
Christine Secilia, Ed.D., is a senior lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies at Point Park University. Drawing on her experience as a patrolman and chief of police, Secilia runs the classroom as a discussion, often expanding on textbook lessons with real-world scenarios.
In the Q&A and video below, Secilia explains why Point Park is a great option for students seeking jobs in law enforcement or criminal justice, and why her classroom is a great place to learn the skills to excel in those fields.
In your opinion, why should students choose Point Park?
I think students should choose Point Park because it's in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh. Especially in the fall, it's absolutely beautiful. There’s also a lot of freedom, with lots of activities at and around Point Park. I think all our lecturers, professors, administrators, faculty and staff are all very well versed in the field that they're teaching or instructing. It’s a tight-knit community here at Point Park University, and we are always willing to help students at any time.
What are your department’s goals?
Our department's goals for students are to prepare them for careers in law enforcement or other criminal justice fields. That can range from probation to corrections to a police officer, and it may even require additional courses. Many of our students go on to become attorneys, and our background has prepared them to begin that journey.
What is the advantage of attending a university like Point Park in Downtown Pittsburgh?
Students in my department benefit from our faculty’s close ties to major criminal justice organizations in Downtown Pittsburgh, including the Allegheny County Jail, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, the sheriff's office and several other groups and organizations we work with. We help our students secure internships and real-world experience, enabling them to identify which departments and organizations they may join after earning their degrees.
Can you share a teaching moment that felt special while at Point Park?
A moment at Point Park that has been special to me happened recently: a student from one of my report-writing classes sent me a very long email thanking me. He wasn't even a criminal justice major; they just happened to cancel one of his courses, so he had to take one that was closest to what he needed, which was a report-writing course. He started a position in loss prevention, where he works very closely with police officers. Because of the report-writing skills he developed in my classroom, he received many compliments from senior officers he worked with each day. That is a very special thing and warms my heart, because I hear this student is applying the knowledge they gained in my classroom. Those are very proud moments for me when I hear a student call and say, “Hey, thanks for the advice and the work in the class, because I'm actually using it.”
What else should students know about the CJIS program at Point Park?
The Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies at Point Park University is a special department, especially given our faculty. All our faculty members have some experience in the field. We have attorneys, we have probation and corrections officers. We have police officers up to the FBI. I think having a small group of faculty members, given the size of our classrooms, and our hands-on approach, makes us more accessible to you. We know our students by first name because of our group sizes, and we're here to get you through it, all the way to the end.