Senior spotlight: Shyanne Milne ’21 (criminal justice)

Get to know the newest members of the University of Indianapolis Alumni Association!

Shyanne Milne, Class of May 2021

• Major: Criminal Justice
• Focus: Crime Scene Investigation
• Minor: Psychology

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to keep working at my current job as a correctional officer and eventually down the line I hope to work my way into being an evidence technician. That is really my end goal.

How did you decide on your career path?

I decided to work in the criminal justice field because of my prior life experiences as well as I have always had an interest in crime scene investigation. I have been interested in Criminal Justice for as long as I can remember.

How has your experience in the criminal justice program prepared you for the next steps in your career? 

While focusing on crime scene investigation I got to work a lot in the crime lab which helped me really narrow in on what I wanted to do with my major. The criminal justice program allows you to explore many different focuses without wasting any time.

Where do you work now and how does it tie into your major?

I work at a jail in Hancock County. I started as an intern at the jail and was hired on full-time. It has been an amazing experience and I have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of amazing people. The jail has helped me with my criminal justice major as well as my psychology minor. You really encounter a lot of different scenarios that test your knowledge and help you learn more about not only that individual but yourself as well.

How did you balance everything during college?

Balancing my responsibilities throughout college has really been difficult for me. I have to balance my time between my family, my school work, and my full-time job (I work night shift). There hasn’t been a year of my college career where I didn’t have to figure out a way to balance my responsibilities. However, I always managed to get it done.

What’s a favorite thing about UIndy?

I think my favorite thing is all of the workshops and extra activities that are offered. It helps everyone on campus be able to connect with one another. I have met some lifelong friends here at UIndy that I am very grateful for.

What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? 

Do not procrastinate. Don’t blow off your freshman year. Keep on top of things and keep your GPA up. Also, if your major requires you to take a biology or chemistry class take it your freshman year. Coming right from high school makes the class go much easier because you are still familiar with the basic information.