Griffons Protect
I鈥檝e always looked up to my older brother. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps, so when it came time for me to go to college I wanted to go to his alma mater, 含羞草社区. I moved from Alabama to Saint Joseph to begin my path towards a bachelor鈥檚 degree. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Missouri Western in 2015.
In 2020, I returned to campus to attend the Law Enforcement Academy where I received my POST certification and became a Sheriff鈥檚 Deputy with the Buchanan County Sheriff鈥檚 Office. But I wasn鈥檛 done with my education at MWSU. In 2022, I registered for the Master鈥檚 in Forensic Investigations degree program. Without MWSU and the master鈥檚 program I would not have had to opportunity to attend the National Forensic Academy with University of Tennessee at Martin. The program at UT Martin allowed me to use all the knowledge and skills I had been developing during the master鈥檚 program and apply it in a hands-on environment.
As proud as I am of working towards my master鈥檚 degree and the experiences I鈥檝e had during this time, my best memories of MWSU are from my time with the Law Enforcement Academy. I made lasting friendships with people I still speak to daily. These friends help encourage me and cheer me on when I need it most. I developed skills and knowledge that have helped me be successful in my career and allowed me to meet even more people who have encouraged me to better myself and pursue my interests.
I鈥檓 so thankful for the educational options at Missouri Western as they allowed me to follow my dreams.
I am proud to call myself a Griffon.
鈥淭here is never a day that doesn鈥檛 bring something new,鈥� says Dawn. As a seasoned deputy with the Buchanan County Sheriff鈥檚 office, Dawn credits instructors Lonnie Bishop and Monty Smith for helping her gain the knowledge and insight to make her the dedicated deputy she is today. Because of her hard work and the experience gained while at Missouri Western, Dawn received a Sheriff鈥檚 accommodation in 2022 for her quick thinking when she helped a gunshot wound victim before EMS was able to arrive.
This is just one story in Dawn鈥檚 career that is paving the way for her to reach her ultimate goal of working for the FBI. She credits the specialized investigation training that she received with helping her shoot for the stars. 鈥淚 am proud to be a Griffon.鈥� Dawn has soared as a Griffon and continues to do great things.
Dawn Dussetschleger 鈥�15 / 鈥�24 Psychology / Senior in Forensic Investigations