Two Howard Payne University students recently attended the annual meeting of the Southwestern Association of Criminal Justice at South Padre Island. Stephanie Upfold, a junior from Brownwood, and Blake Wynn, a sophomore from Rockwall, are both criminal justice majors with an emphasis in forensic science.

The students attended the conference with Lynn Humeniuk, associate professor of criminal justice and sociology and director of HPU’s criminal justice program; and Dr. Paul Lilly, assistant professor of criminal justice and chief/director of the university’s Department of Public Safety.

Humeniuk participated in the roundtable discussion titled “Restorative Justice: Victims, Offenders and Communities,” while Dr. Lilly participated in the “Community Policing” and “Campus Victimization” roundtables.

Several universities from the southwestern United States were in attendance, as well as many criminal justice practitioners, EMTs and firefighters from surrounding states. The seminar’s keynote speaker was Sheriff Lupe Valdez from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

Humeniuk said HPU provided an incredible opportunity for the participants from the university to meet other professionals and students who are interested in serving others through the criminal justice field.

“This conference allowed us to network, exchange ideas, review up-to-date research presentations and be able to represent Howard Payne University at roundtable presentations,” she said. “It was a tremendous blessing to the four of us who attended.”

Pictured above:  HPU Criminal Justice students on the beach at South Padre Island, from left, Lynn Humeniuk, Dr. Paul Lilly, Stephanie Upfold and Blake Wynn.