Introduction

Dr. Breanna Boppre (Dr. B.)

I am an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Wichita State University. I have been at WSU since August 2018. I teach Corrections, Intro to Research Methods, and Women, Crime, and Criminal Justice.

I love being a professor because higher education (college) was a very important and life-changing experience for me. I was a first-generation college student: no one in my family attended college before me. I seek to use my position to help students like you learn new things, form their career goals, and prepare for success in life.

I am excited for you to take this class! Many students' views change throughout the course. There are stereotypes and myths related to the correctional system and gender that I will help you confront. My connection to corrections is personal. Both my parents were incarcerated throughout my childhood/young adulthood. I grew up visiting my father in prisons all across the state of Nevada (where I am from). Those experiences made me want to earn a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice. As a graduate student, I interned in Portland, Oregon at a community corrections agency and helped facilitate rehabilitative treatment groups for men under supervision. It was a great experience and one I will never forget. I now work directly with correctional agencies in Kansas and other states to help evaluate and implement evidence-based practices. Here is a recent article about my current research from WSU news.

Studying the gendered contexts of system-involvement is also important to me. As a woman, I want to understand the experiences of other women and help them. I grew up in a home with domestic violence, which inspired me to conduct research and training related to gender, adverse childhood experiences, and trauma-informed care. I also took human sexuality as an undergrad and that class was extremely transformative for me in understanding how the CJ system treats *trans people.

Every professor is human and enters the classroom with their own views and experiences. I want to be transparent with you about mine. I see you as human beings. I care about each of you and want you to succeed in my class!

The way I teach is focused on empathy (understanding the perspective of others) and critical thinking. I don't expect you to share my exact views. My goal is to expose you to cutting-edge research and human experiences. From there, you will form your own informed opinions. For many issues we discuss, there will not be a "right" or "wrong" answer. You are all humans as well and bring in your own experiences to your classes. All I ask is to come in with an open mind and treat everyone with respect.

I have three dogs: Aflie (mini-greyhound), Lucy (long-haired dachshund), and Heidi (chiweenie).

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, bike rides, yoga, and video games. Right now I am playing Cyberpunk 2077, World of Warcraft, Pokemon Sheild, Kirby Star Allies, and Fall Guys.

I like watching comedies because what I research can be heavy. My favorite shows are

The Office

Parks & Rec

Arrested Development

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

While I prefer comedies, I do love Netflix Docuseries (Making a Murderer, Tiger King).

I also love music. I've been to over 100 concerts/festivals. My favorite genres is indie/alternative, but I like more mainstream music too, like Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, and Halsey.

I am looking forward to getting to know all of you!

-Dr. B.