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Each semester, the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice hosts a Capstone Research Symposium, where graduating master’s degree students present the findings from their cumulative research project. With each iteration, Gabriel Cesar, PhD, assistant professor, and the Capstone students raise the bar for how professional, insightful, and engaging the presentations can be, and this semester was no exception. While faculty, staff, Dean Luna and her college leadership team mingled with students, their families, and members of the Boca Raton business community, the Capstone students were outside preparing with their resident success coach Rachael Schmidt, founder and CEO of Common Sixth Consulting. After a quick group meditation outside, the students felt more centered and ready to begin their presentations.

Individual Capstone projects systematically identified, assessed, and synthesized research in emergent areas of policing, such as autism training, disaster preparedness, de-escalation, and co-responder models of policing that incorporate social workers into policing practice. Others explored research relevant to incarceration (e.g., parental rights of the incarcerated), crime causation (e.g., stress levels & violent decision-making), crime prevention (e.g., personal self-defense), and contemporary issues such as the “immigrant paradox” and consequences of federal whistleblowing. To accomplish this, Capstone students conducted scoping reviews using Covidence, an analysis software made available through the FAU Library and the FAU Tech Fee. The result was an evening of interesting research and discussion where the students showcased their skills, and the community celebrated their hard work.

Itzel Erazo, 3rd Place: The Immigrant Paradox & Routine Activity: A Scoping Review

The evening would not have been possible without steadfast support from fearless mindfulness guide, success coach, student brand consultant, and constructive critic, Rachael Schmidt. Each Tuesday night throughout the semester, Rachael was in class with the students exploring mindfulness techniques, applying coping strategies, consulting on everything from wardrobe and presentation style to stress management and nurturing self-connection as a foundation for personal and professional branding. The group dynamic that develops between Professor Cesar, Rachael, and the students each semester fosters a graduate school culture of supportive competition and collaboration that threads down from cohort to cohort.

Rachael also sponsors the event each semester, allowing the school to purchase food and drinks and fund generous monetary awards for top presenters.

2025 Top Presenters

Best Presentation - Samantha White: $1,000

First Runner-Up - Emely Peguero: $500

Second Runner-Up - Itzel Erazo: $200

Professional Development - Emely Peguero: $100

During the event, special guest Sandra Pavelka, PhD, president and CEO of Community & Restorative Justice Associates and Pavelka Consulting Group and Florida Atlantic alumna, shared her experiences as an FAU student, researcher, and now mentor to students, as well as her relationship with former professor and preeminent criminologist, the late Dr. Gordon Bazemore. FAU’s Center for Peace, Justice, and Human Rights funds a $500 travel stipend that is awarded each semester to one Capstone presenter whose research is deemed most likely to contribute to improving the experiences of people impacted by criminal justice systems. 

This semester, Dr. Pavelka selected Samantha White for her Capstone titled “The co-responder model of policing: A Scoping Review” and presented Samantha with the award and a copy of her new book “”