The first time I wrote a Letter of
Intent, I looked up samples and hints so that I could write a
“correct” letter. The result of following those templates left
me with the feeling that I had faked it. Not by adding in any false
information or by stretching the truth about myself, but rather by
looking at the Letter and feeling that I was not portraying “me”.
What I intend to do for this letter is to let the information flow
freely: Who am I? What qualifications do I have for a doctorate? Why
do I want to pursue a doctorate? What do I intend to do with a
doctorate?
I am an older student (age 47). I
have kicked about in life somewhat: four years in the Marine Corps,
an IT career of eight years, running my own business for eight years,
four years of work at a television station, and two years as a
security guard. I have to admit of chasing my tail for a few of
those years to pay the mortgage, but for the most part, I am
satisfied with the work I have done. I took on leadership and
management responsibility at most of the companies that I have been
employed.
My BA is in Government from the
University of Texas at Austin. I was a horrible student, except in
the subjects in which I was interested. Twenty years later, I found
graduate study to be far more interesting, and I accomplished a 4.0
GPA in a Criminal Justice program with a focus in Homeland Security.
I did attend a for-profit, online program at South University, and I
understand that there is a negative perception of such schools in the
academic community. I did some research and wrote an overview of my
experience, to which I will provide a link. A minor research
interest of mine is in the quality of criminal justice education, and
the difference between traditional and online programs. I did present
at the 2015 ASC meeting, but I flubbed the presentation from a
combination of over-confidence and under-preparation; I thought I
knew the material better than stage fright could prevent me from
presenting, and I was wrong.
My presentation, “The Effects Of
Hoover's Bureaucratic Tactics On COINTELPRO Operations: A Comparison
Between NEW LEFT and WHITE HATE”, should highlight my primary
research interest, which is in studying the effects that politics has
on national security and criminal justice. In my opinion, national
security and criminal justice share the basic goal of government,
which is to protect the citizen. The major concepts in this research
area include growth complex, corruption. partisan interest, and
rent-seeking. My underlying purpose in seeking a doctorate is in
learning the processes for identifying and measuring different
causal effects. Human, and thus governmental, action is a
multi-variate result, and I would like to be able to describe these
causes better than I can now.
I intend on working for a research
institute after attaining a doctorate, one that works in the areas of
national security and/or criminal justice, and one that works in
these areas from a Constitutional perspective. This would be the
optimum I could contribute to society. I definitely bring a
outsider's perspective to the field. On the other hand, if I can not
find such employment, I have no problem teaching. Instructional
duties have represented a great part of my responsibilities throughout my
career.
Thank you for this opportunity, and I
have provided links below:
ASC Paper:
Overview of South University's Program:
LinkedIn Profile:
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