Carter Duff does not waste time. After transferring from Butler Community College, where he’d already earned 60 credits, Carter hit the ground running at Wichita State and secured a cybersecurity credential and hands-on experience with federal law enforcement. 

This past spring, Carter interned with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), where his daily duties ranged from organizing case files to going on ride-alongs with special agents. 

“Every day varied based on the tasks or objectives of the day,” Carter said. “A typical day could be anything from sorting case files to ride-alongs with special agents.” 

The internship was part of the MCJI Crime Gun Intelligence Training and Education Student Participant Program, an applied learning initiative through Wichita State’s Midwest Criminal Justice Institute. MCJI connects local, state and federal law enforcement with students looking for real-world experience. 

“Carter’s work has consistently been outstanding,” said Shaira Dunn, event, training and program coordinator at MCJI. “The agency he worked with shared glowing feedback, noting that he regularly went above and beyond what was expected. He showed a genuine eagerness to learn from those around him and made the most of every opportunity.” 

Carter is majoring in business administration and plans to pursue a career in federal law enforcement. 

“My classes at Wichita State have absolutely prepared me for this internship,” he said. “They’ve given me practical information and lessons that pertain to my future career.” 

Carter said the paid nature of the internship made a meaningful difference. 

“It took a significant amount of stress off me,” he said. “Because this internship was paid, it allowed me to focus on learning and enjoying the experiences I had at HSI and allowed me to maintain a high GPA.” 

He also credited the MCJI staff with supporting him throughout the process. 

“They were very helpful and made the application process so much easier,” Carter said. “While I was at HSI, I met some amazing people who serve our country every day. Everyone there was incredibly welcoming and inclusive. And due to my experience at this internship, I’m now committed to pursuing a career in federal law enforcement.” 

MCJI is part of Wichita State’s Industry and Defense Programs and serves as the university’s point of contact for law enforcement partnerships. The Crime Gun Intelligence Training and Education Program currently supports more than a dozen students — with more opportunities planned for the future. 

“Students like Carter set the tone for what’s possible through applied learning,” Dunn said. “He represents Wichita State well.” 

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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