Police Captain, Apple Valley Police Dept.
"A quality academic experience is created when students have a tangible, lasting work product to walk away with along with the opportunity to make lasting professional relationships. CSP gave me both of those and more."
Nick Francis is a graduate of CSP’s Master of Arts in criminal justice leadership program. He is a police captain with the Apple Valley Police Department. In addition, he has returned to CSP as a faculty member of the criminal justice program, aiming to help students discover their strengths as they navigate the path to their life of purpose. We asked Nick a few questions about how he knew Concordia was the right fit for his path and how he balances his career endeavors.
Q: What creates a quality academic experience and how has CSP provided that to you?
A: A quality academic experience is created when students have a tangible, lasting work product to walk away with along with the opportunity to make lasting professional relationships. CSP gave both of those and more.
Q: When did you decide to become a professor at CSP?
A: Shortly after graduating, I knew I wanted to teach for CSP. CSP’s degree program changed my life and I thought the professors were amazing. I wanted to give back to the students just like my professors gave to me.
Q: How do you manage both of these professional career endeavors?
A: Teaching and working complement each other, especially in criminal justice. It is such a small, tight-knit profession. Just like my students, work comes first and in criminal justice, there are often emergencies or “fires” to be put out. Those emergencies serve as great learning opportunities and teaching points that the students can all learn from. Leadership and teaching it is s a great way to make our profession better as we move forward. Teaching is essentially an extension of my work day with many of the same concepts, theories, and challenges being presented throughout the courses I teach.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a professor?
A: I enjoy hearing the different perspectives of my students. I also love the opportunity to meet fellow criminal justice practitioners from across the state and nation.
Q: Why is it important to be a lifelong learner in the criminal justice field of service?
A: We work in a field that is constantly evolving. Criminal justice in the 21st century is changing at a constant rate. You need to get on the bus before you are lost in the dust! Opening up your mind and learning about other perspectives is the first part of this process.