Kelly Rowlett is a senior at Wichita State studying Criminal Justice. Rowlett is a returning adult learner who found her original career unfulfilling. She wanted to help others and make a difference.

“I realized that I enjoyed helping people,” Rowlett says. “I wanted to be a part of the change in society, and, when it comes to my retirement, I want to feel satisfied that I contributed to others and this world.”

Rowlett is also a transfer student from Butler County Community College. During her time at Butler, she found her passion for law.

“Each class has given me a new perspective of Law Enforcement,” Rowlett says. “It’s helped me understand how the legal system works from the point of police contact to probation/parole, understanding diversity and learning unity, and how mental health is a big factor in the criminal justice world.”

Rowlett interned with the Wichita Parole Office in August 2021 but was promoted to the Sedgwick County Department of Corrections in December 2021 as their new full-time recruiter. As she finished training for her new position, she realized she could reach out to her classmates and help them find work with Sedgwick County with the assistance of the Shocker Career Accelerator.

Her job is to show potential interns what the Sedgwick County Department of Corrections has to offer by creating their part-time Corrections Officer Work Study Program. This program, which pays $17.82 per hour, gives students the opportunity to work in the different Corrections departments throughout their internship. Their Intensive Supervisor Officer internships have students work on professional assessments, case planning, supervising, and rehabilitating juvenile or adult clients. They also have internships in their Mental Health Department for those working towards their master’s degree in social work or equivalent.

“Internships are a great way to see first-hand how the working world in Criminal Justice runs, to see if you can handle the position you see yourself wanting to work in and to get real hands-on experience in the industry,” Rowlett says.

Not only does Rowlett work as a recruiter, but she is also cross-trained as a corrections officer for both juvenile and adult facilities.

When asked about an experience she gained from her internship she likely would not have gained elsewhere, Rowlett said her time shadowing with the Juvenile Detention Facility was a big eye-opener for her. She says there’s a real need for change and that these young individuals need more positive support and role models in their lives. She says she can advocate for these young individuals and their mental health after this experience.

Rowlett says her internship has helped her settle into her role before graduation and that it’s the best move she has made.

Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.

For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus