The Criminal Justice Association at Northern Michigan University is a group for those interested in the field of Criminal Justice. As a group, we get involved within the community and hold events to expand our horizons in different aspects of our field. The NMU Criminal Justice Association is for all who have an interest in Criminal Justice.
President
Vice President
Spencer Slezewski
Secretary
Caitlyn Davis
Treasurer
Vacant
Faculty Adviser
Chris MacMaster
Meetings
Meetings for the Fall 2026 Semester will be TBD.
Additional meeting dates:
TBD
CJA members will be notified of the specific meeting location on campus.
If you are interested in attending our meetings, please request to be added to the CJA mailing list.
Contact Information:
- Avery Westfallen: avewestf@nmu.edu
- Spencer Slezewski: sslezews@nmu.edu
Adviser:
- Chris MacMaster: Gries 147B, cmacmast@nmu.edu
Feel free to reach out to any of us if you have questions or need further information.
Check out some of the things we do!
Volunteering: Our organization has a profound passion for giving back to the community in and around NMU to foster connection and growth. The numerous Special Olympics events, NMU’s MADD, Haunted Hayride, and the UP200, are just a sliver of what we’re involved with every year!
Security: The CJA is often approached by local organizations to provide security for events in the community such as The Festival of the Angry Bear, concerts, and sports games.
Field Trips: Visits to local correctional facilities, forensic laboratories, law enforcement departments, courts, and federal border inspection stations are common. These trips give a first-hand experience to those interested in working in these environments.
Guest Speakers: Exploring the field of criminal justice is made easier with the various professionals we invite to talk about their careers and the pathway to their current positions. From troopers to psychologists to scientists, anything our members are interested in we try to bring in professionals from the desired field.
- Upcoming 2026 major events for CJA members include:
- Providing security assistance at the UP200 dog sled races in downtown Marquette, MI
- Volunteering at the Pigs-N-Heat Charity Hockey Game
- Volunteering at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge
- Security assistance at the The Angry Bear Festival in downtown Marquette, MI
Why get involved
The field of criminal justice is growing rapidly and it is extremely competitive to get into the field without a good education. More and more agencies are hiring candidates who have gone beyond a high school education, even though that may be the minimum educational requirement. It is important for each individual to get involved in more than their academics if they want to show potential employers that they stand above the crowd. A great way to do this is to get involved in extra-curricular activities. Becoming a member of the Criminal Justice Association and being active in the group, shows you have a sincere interest in the field of criminal justice.
The CJA participates in a number different projects throughout the year. Often we are called upon to act as security officers for NMU sponsored special events or concerts. We work with community leaders with special projects such as Kaleidoscope. This group helps photograph and fingerprint children, to help identify missing children. We work with community agencies concerned about the environment or assist with the UP 200 Dog Sled competition. We bring in guest speakers to talk about careers in the criminal justice field, such as K-9 groups who provide demonstrations working with dogs. Alternatively, other speakers will provide real-life experiences, like working as a police officer, as a secret service agent, as a loss prevention officer and many other careers. Students also enjoy fun time activities such as practicing their shooting skills with the shooting simulator. We take tours of the Marquette Maximum Security Prison. Or, we just enjoy a good round of paint ball shooting or other special outings..
Every person brings new ideas opportunities to the organization. The more people the better the club becomes. We have a variety of traditional and non-traditional students who are currently working in the field to share their expertise. Learning from others about real-life experiences is what it is all about.
For more information, keep checking your e-mails as we send out information about upcoming meetings. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the CJA president.
