The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences doctoral summit testimonials
Read feedback from the 2026 cohort as well as past participants
View The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences doctoral summit playbook article
Alumni
The summit created an intentional space to build meaningful relationships with doctoral scholars across institutions, many of whom I remain in close professional contact with almost a decade later.
Those relationships have evolved into research collaborations, shared methodological growth, secured grant funding, and professional opportunities that emerged downstream of those initial conversations in 2017.
The summit expanded my scholarly community in ways that have meaningfully shaped my research trajectory and professional development.
Alumni
The summit gave me the encouragement I needed to not only finish [my dissertation] strong, but it opened up ideas on how to pursue a tenure track position, helped me with how to continue publishing well after my dissertation was complete, and it assisted me in networking with others just like me.
Since that summit, I was selected to attend that year’s NIJ National Conference on full scholarship as 1 of only 25 in the country and meet the then United States Attorney General, Merrick Garland.
Would I do it all over again? I say an emphatic, “YES!”
Alumni
As a solo member of my PhD cohort, there are times where the process can feel isolating. However through the ACJS Doctoral Student summit, I was immediately connected to folks from around the country, and even the world, who are going through the same things that I am.
Now I have friends and future colleagues that I can reach out to for advice, support and opportunities to collaborate.
Alumni
Professionally, [the summit] expanded my network in meaningful and lasting ways. I built close relationships with peers across the country and internationally, with my closest friend from the summit residing in Australia. [Another] of those relationships has already led to a co-authored publication in progress, and several additional collaborations grew directly out of connections made at the summit.
This fantastic group of humans created an environment where we felt genuinely seen and supported, not just as scholars but as people. The experience reinforced that higher education can be deeply human when the right community is cultivated.
Alumni
I have experienced both personal and academic life-changing opportunities because of the Doctoral summit. I am part of the small but growing group of Canadian awardees, and the summit allowed me to connect with many American and international peers.
I have made lifelong friends, and a few of us got matching goldfish tattoos during our summit year (which symbolize the advice Dr. Pfeiffer gave us all: to keep going and focus only on what is in front of us, so as not to become overwhelmed)!
I am so grateful to the summit leaders and cohort members, as I feel I have finally found my place in academia. It is important to feel included and welcomed, and the summit has provided so much more for me!
Alumni
The doctoral summit provides a toolbox of different subjects doctoral students need to be exposed to, such as navigating the job market, understanding mental health, and grappling with imposter syndrome.
Specifically, to me, I have made contacts that I still draw upon to this day. Having the ability to speak peer-to-peer to other doctoral students helps with breaking down social barriers and the “me against the world” mentality.
Alumni
I can truly say that my experiences as a Doctoral summit participant (2018) served as a springboard to my other ACJS involvements and leadership experiences. The relationships I built then have only grown stronger, evidenced by the following:
· Education Topic Chair, “Represent: Pursuing Equitable Justice for Families, Schools, Communities, and Marginalized Populations and Individuals,” ACJS, 2023-2024
· Executive Counselor, Law and Public Policy section, ACJS, 2022-Present
· Executive Counselor and Communications Committee Vice-Chair, Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship section, ACJS, 2019-2022
· Executive Counselor, Restorative/Community Justice section, ACJS, 2019-2021
My doctoral summit experiences included, I do and will continue to proudly wear the ACJS banner!”
Alumni
The summit gave me key insight on how to navigate the terrifying academic job market and into what the first year of being a junior faculty member would look like. Most importantly, the summit provided invaluable support systems, mentorship, and lifelong friends that I would have otherwise never met.
It is safe to say the ACJS Doctoral summit changed my academic career trajectory for the better.
Alumni
Through structured workshops and interactive sessions, I strengthened my presentation skills and gained practical strategies for communicating my research with clarity and confidence.
The summit also offered critical insight into preparing for the academic and professional job market, including guidance on CV development, interviewing, and positioning myself as a competitive candidate.
Most importantly, the experience helped me better navigate the PhD process by demystifying milestones, expectations, and pathways to success, reinforcing my identity and direction as a doctoral scholar.
Alumni
I was part of the inaugural doctoral summit and it has brought me so much joy connecting with students from all of the cohorts to follow.
The legacy and lasting friendships (I’m still close with people I met during my summit) have meant so much to me professionally and personally.
Alumni
The doctoral summit was one of the best professional development opportunities I have ever engaged in. In addition to the focus on completing the dissertation, the summit provides students with the tools to successfully navigate the job market.
Relatedly, they hone in on student mental health, providing the skills necessary to help student protect themselves from burnout and stress, large issues amongst academics.
Through the summit, I also gained some invaluable friendships for which I am incredibly grateful. As a result of the summit, I gained a community of researchers who truly care about one another and about making a difference in the field and society.
I learned a ton about how to prepare for academic and non-academic positions, how to better market myself for jobs, and what opportunities I might want to pursue.
Second, I created so many wonderful friendships with fellow PhD students that have led to research collaborations, accountability partners, guest lecturing opportunities, and so much more.
I gained another support network through the doctoral summit that has helped me professionally and personally.
Alumni
The sessions at the doctoral summit addressed topics that are often overlooked or only discussed informally, particularly for international students. I gained so much invaluable knowledge on maintaining a healthy work/life balance, navigating the job market, and addressing race, ethnicity, and gender barriers in academia.
I strongly recommend the doctoral summit for everyone!
Alumni
As a doctoral researcher specializing in the nexus between terrorism and human trafficking, the summit was a pivotal experience in my academic journey.
It provided me with meaningful mentorship, practical guidance on navigating the job market, and connections that have directly shaped my career trajectory.
2026 Cohort
I most enjoyed meeting other graduate students and hearing from experienced scholars. I learned that careers take all sorts of trajectories and that all can lead to the same place of producing important research.
I also learned so much about other universities and programs, including insights I could only have gained from intensive, in-person conversations.
2026 Cohort
The facilitators packed a significant amount of valuable information into a short period of time. There is truly something in the program that everyone can benefit from, which is why I would highly recommend it to others.
The summit provides valuable insights, numerous networking opportunities, and a great introduction to attending ACJS for those who, like myself, have not attended before.
2026 Cohort
What I enjoyed most about the summit was the opportunity to engage in meaningful, thought-provoking conversations with fellow doctoral scholars and senior mentors, where I felt genuinely inspired, intellectually challenged, and part of a supportive academic community.