Today we welcome Ashley (Bauman) Payne to the podcast. The child of a police lieutenant, Ashley grew up going on ride-alongs with her dad, learning about the work he did out on the beat. As a first-generation college student, Ashley enrolled in her home state's Indiana University, gravitating toward criminal justice in order to learn more of the academics behind a familiar field she found fascinating.

Encouraged to attend grad school by a professor who told her the University of Cincinnati was "the best," Ashley earned her Master of Science in criminal justice and went on to pursue a doctorate focused on correctional rehabilitation, which she ultimately decided to forgo after four years of study. Hired on to work as a Research Associate with UC's Corrections Institute, she earned an MBA to better understand the internal structure of criminal justice organizations.

Ashley fell in love with consulting during grad school and, in 2012, launched Bauman Consulting Group, a criminal justice consulting firm serving law enforcement, courts, corrections, and related public and social sector agencies. In this episode she discusses her passion for criminal justice consulting, dedicating herself to a life of research, some of her standout memories from UC, as well as her experience as an adjunct professor at UC's Blue Ash campus. She also offers up some important advice for students exploring potential career paths.

LINKS:
Bauman Consultng Group
UC's Master of Science in Criminal Justice program
UC's Criminal Justice Ph.D. program
UC Corrections Institute

For episode eight we welcome John Kelly, a 2012 graduate of UC's Master of Education program whose career journey has taken a very interesting path. A bookish kid growing up, John went on to study English in undergraduate school then, with a plan to become an educator, he pursued and completed graduate work at UC's School of Education.

Life had other plans for John, though, and, despite receiving a teaching offer from a local public school, he found himself moving out of state – first to Minnesota, then California and, in time, to the Emerald Isle of Ireland. He began writing on a freelance basis for a number of high-profile outlets including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura and Slate. His longstanding love of words and language led him to a senior lexicographer role with a dictionary website, followed by a five-plus year ascent through the ranks at Dictionary.com, where he was promoted to a Vice President of Editorial role at the well-known tech company.

Things have come full circle for John, though, as he recently renewed his teaching license and accepted a long-term substitute position teaching English at a local junior high school. In this episode, he shares with us the details of his various career moves, as well as the moment the classroom called him back from what he calls "an unemployed wilderness." He talks to us about how it feels to be in front of students once again and where he sees his career going from here.

This episode begins season two for CECH Chats, during which we're focused on conversations with alumni of the four schools in this college, learning about their personal and professional journeys since graduation day and hearing how these Bearcats for Life are impacting their communities for the better.

LINKS:

• Mashed Radish
• Shakespeare Confidential

This episode of CECH Chats features a special fireside chat with Robert Hirsch, chief of the Miami Township police department and a two-time alum of UC's School of Criminal Justice – he holds an undergraduate degree and master's degree from the school. But early on Hirsch never even thought of becoming a police officer, instead studying to become an aeronautical engineer until the events of September 11, 2001, spurred him to quit school and join the army. Upon honorable discharge from the military, he showed up to the police academy just a couple days later.

Hirsch was hired to the Miami Township Police Department in 2007, starting as a patrol officer and working up to field training officer, patrol supervisor, and operations commander. He was appointed as police chief in 2024

In this special episode of CECH Chats, Hirsch speaks with school director JC Barnes about his experience as a UC student. He also goes into detail about a very special study, executed in partnership with the School of Criminal Justice, aimed at reducing dangerous motorist speeds on a stretch of road next to a school for children with hearing impairments.

Tune in to learn more about this fascinating and impactful work.