Resiliency and the Justice Professional

Elizabeth Q. Wright, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice Administration at Middle Tennessee State University. She received bachelor's degrees in psychology and social welfare from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Arts and PhD from Sam Houston State University, and has taught at both Fayetteville State University and Middle Tennessee State University. Her interests include victimology and victim's studies, police-community relations and the problem-oriented police officer, and stress management, with a particular emphasis on helping students to develop their self-care and wellness practices before they enter the workforce so the impact of “the job” is more manageable and their work, and wellness, are supported. Wright has worked as a corrections liaison with incarcerated boys and girls and served for a number of years as a rape crisis hotline counselor, support group facilitator, and emergency room companion for two different victim service agencies. She is the co-author of a textbook on Crime Victimization, currently in its 3rd edition and contributory author to a text on the good and the bad of criminal justice practice. Bethany Wrye, Ph.D, MCHES, is an Associate Professor at Middle Tennessee State University, where she serves as the Interim Chair for the Department of Health and Human Performance. She holds a B.A. in both Biology and Spanish from Lipscomb University, an M.S. in Experimental Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance, both from Middle Tennessee State University. She has held faculty positions at both Belmont University and Tennessee State University. Currently, she serves as the President for the Middle Tennessee Fund for Women and Girls. She served as the Chair of Tennessee Public Health Association’s Academics Section, on the Health Education School Health Advisory Committee for the state of Tennessee, on the United Way Healthy Behaviors Vision Council, and the Program Vice President for the Murfreesboro chapter of the American Association of University Women. In addition to being committed to supporting students in their own research interests, Dr. Wrye’s scholarly focus is two pronged. Firstly, she is interested in the use of technology and student engagement to improve pedagogy. Additionally, she is interested in exploring the relationship between moral disengagement and adverse childhood experiences.

1: Introduction – Establishing resiliency-building now – why? 2: Overview – Stress and Trauma 3: Wellness, Pt. 1 – What is it and why is it important? 4: Wellness, Pt. 2 – Dimensions of Health, continued.5: Creating a self-care routine and identifying the body and mind’s response to distress 6: Stress and the Student 7: The Harsher Realities of Criminal Justice Professions 8: Stress and Wellness in the Profession 9: Maintaining wellness practice as you transition from college to career