Allison Bateson (Syracuse, NY) came to Alfred State to play soccer, but it was the Criminal Justice program that convinced her she had found the right place to build her future.
After touring the campus, exploring the crime lab, and meeting faculty members, she knew Alfred State offered the hands-on learning environment she was seeking.
“Everything I saw was engaging and connected to real-world experiences. I learned about opportunities and career paths that I hadn’t even considered before.”
Allison has gained practical experience through crime scene simulations, evidence collection exercises, investigative reports, and mock search warrants. She especially appreciates the program’s industry-standard technology, including a digital fingerprinting system and interactive simulator that allows students to respond to realistic scenarios.
“The simulator responds like a real person would. It teaches you how to think on your feet and adapt to situations you may encounter in your career.”
Bateson credits the faculty’s professional experience and the program’s small class sizes for creating a supportive learning environment. “The professors are incredibly knowledgeable. Most of them have years of background in criminal justice. You are not just learning textbook information, the professors are bringing in their real-life experiences, knowledge, and stories for us to learn from.”
Outside the classroom, she serves as a Criminal Justice peer mentor, competes on the women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, and is active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
To further prepare for her future she added minors in Psychology and Business.
“I want to do something that helps people and brings closure when they need it most. That’s always been the ultimate goal.”
Allison has analyzed all the clues, and is an expert witness.