Becky Mendez

Becky Mendez , Visiting Instructor/Internship Coordinator for the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida International University in Miami in 1995. As a student at FIU, I volunteered at South Florida Reception Center as a transitional counselor. I conducted group and individual sessions with male inmates, who were within six months of release, on a variety of topics including job search skills, how to answer difficult interview questions, housing and other topics designed to ease their transition back into the community.

I received my Masters of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from University of North Florida in 2005. As a former student at UNF, I am very excited to have the opportunity to be involved in the department in a teaching capacity.

My interests in the Criminal Justice field include offender treatment and intervention/prevention programs for juveniles. I have worked with youth and their families in a variety of settings, including social service agencies that work to address many of the risk factors commonly associated with delinquency and later criminal behavior.

Some of my related work experiences included working at Daniel with at-risk youth, conducting home visits and Family Team Conferences with the Neighborhood Partnership for the Protection of Children, and substance abuse counseling. I was an active volunteer with the Girl Scouts for approximately 5 years, and also volunteered with Hubbard House.

In addition to work in the Criminal Justice field, I have worked in a variety of business settings. I have managed a staff of approximately 35 employees, including interviewing, hiring, and coaching employees in their professional development. This experience has helped me identify the needs of employers and given me the skills to guide interns in obtaining an internship offer that both meets the needs of the agency and the individual.

I am a member of the International Association of Crime Analysts, and have a particular interest in the use of technology to assist in Law Enforcement efforts. I have been involved in projects using ArcGIS to map out crimes and identify trends or series of crimes.

Contact Information:

Phone: (904) 620-1717

E-mail: b.mendez@unf.edu

Office: Building 51/Office 2122