Simon Wassef, BA'21, is returning to St. Thomas to teach in the department of Criminology and Criminal Justice a program his father Dr. Chris McCormick co-founded more than 20 years ago.
The pair have shared a passion for Criminology for as long as Wassef can remember and this fall, they'll add a professional layer to their relationship as colleagues.
"It's a tremendous honour to come back to a department that is so critically acclaimed and widely known among public service professionals in New Brunswick," Wassef said.
"I love teaching and diving into the material, introducing new ideas, and being challenged by individuals who are learning something for the first time."
Wassef will be teaching two courses this fall Introduction to Criminology and Corporate Crime and Regulation.
Dr. McCormick, who has been teaching at STU for 30 years, recognizes what a unique opportunity it is to work in the same department as his son.
"People have been tempting me to think that he's following in my footsteps, but he's creating his own path. STU was just the right atmosphere for me to develop my work and for him to thrive as a student and find a professional niche," he said.
"We are entering a new era of social issues and having him as a teaching professional analyze those issues in the classroom will better prepare students for their entry into the world outside university."
Criminology in Practice
Following the completion of his honours in Criminology and Criminal Justice at STU in 2021, Wassef began his career in public safety. His professional experience includes complex crime analysis, navigating natural resource disputes, and studying the root causes of radicalization. This applied expertise combined with his Master of Public Safety from Wilfrid Laurier University will allow him to bring a unique perspective to topics explored in the classroom.
"These experiences give me a perspective of what criminology in practice is like and what criminal justice services we offer in the province," he said.
"They provide lived experience and an understanding of criminology that can contribute to classroom learning and providing students with the best possible experience they can have."
Giving Students the Opportunity to Succeed
The ability for students to find connections between multiple areas of interest is just one reason Dr. McCormick believes Criminology and Criminal Justice is such a popular program.
"Criminology is challenging, but the reward of learning new things and feeling that you're on the side of justice is important," he said.
"We explore issues of race, gender, and class, where we start to learn about how people are not treated fairly because of their gender or because of their race."
As a seasoned professor, Dr. McCormick's advice to his son was to "enjoy what you do." While that is sound advice, Wassef is inspired by his dad's student-first approach in the classroom.
"The primary strategy that I'd like to adapt from my dad would be to always give students the opportunity to succeed," he said.
"If somebody really wants to do the work, then provide them with that opportunity and create the best environment to facilitate success."
