Iona University is known for its robust criminal justice program, both in terms of academics and especially extracurriculars. A new extracurricular opportunity for criminal justice majors and criminal justice-adjacent majors is now available: The American Criminal Justice Association – Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE). The ACJA-LAE is a national organization that promotes professionalism and education in the criminal justice field through networking, workshops, scholarship, and conferences for students and practitioners. The national organization also maintains a regularly updated job bank and hosts a career fair at their national conference. With over 69 active chapters across the United States, the ACJA-LAE will soon reactivate its chapter at Iona: the ACJA-LAE Chi Omega Chapter (ACJA Club). ACJA-LAE hosts regional and national conferences featuring presentations, information sessions and even competitions.
This includes written criminal justice tests, crime scene investigations, physical fitness and firearms competitions. Winners are awarded medals that create resume-building experiences standing out to any employer. Upon being accepted as an ACJA-LAE member, students receive memorabilia like a membership pin and card, access to the organization’s job bank and newsletters on the most current developments in the criminal justice field. ACJA-LAE members can also apply for academic scholarship awards, earn awards for academic research papers on any criminal justice topic and apply for funding to attend one of the organization’s regional conferences. In addition to funding, the ACJA-LAE recognizes academic excellence with tiered scholastic honors awards. The highest honor is a gold key, which is awarded to members with a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Gabriella Hernandez ’27, the ACJA Club President, is working to gain SGA recognition for the organization and register the chapter with the national ACJA-LAE organization. Hernandez and the ACJA Club’s executive board (e-board) will be hosting events such as a meet-and-greet with New Rochelle Police Department officers and a Second Chance Month panel with formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs. The ACJA Club aims to be interdisciplinary,
welcoming not just criminal justice majors but also students studying cyber security, political science, pre-law and more! The ACJA Club’s first event will be a sweet Valentine’s Day candygram fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the Spellman Hall Portico. Any interested members should reach out to Gabriella Hernandez at [email protected]. Biweekly club meetings will take place every other Wednesday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Doorley Hall Room 110.
