2025 Executive Board Candidates

McKenzie L. Jossie
Louisiana State University

Personal Statement Since attending my first SCJA conference as a graduate student, I have developed a deep appreciation for the association and its commitment to supporting students, practitioners, faculty, and communities. Over the past eight years, I’ve participated in various panels and events that have significantly shaped my academic career. I am proud to promote SCJA and now bring my graduate students to the conference. My desire to serve this organization has grown through my involvement as chair of several award committees and my current role on the Records and Communications Committee. These experiences have deepened my commitment to SCJA’s mission and values. I am running for Director-at-Large to give back to an association that has provided me with invaluable opportunities related to research, professional development, networking, and mentorship. If elected, I will work to strengthen SCJA’s regional and national presence by collaborating with current members, recruiting new members, and expanding professional growth opportunities for students, practitioners, and junior scholars. I am also committed to supporting and advancing our association’s top-tier journal. SCJA has been instrumental in my professional journey, and I am eager to continue contributing to the great work of this storied association. I humbly request your vote for Director-at-Large.

Biographical Sketch McKenzie L. Jossie earned her B.S. in Psychology, Spanish, and Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of North Florida, and Ph.D. in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of Florida. She is currently an Assistant Professor at LSU in Baton Rouge, LA. Her primary research areas include corrections, collateral consequences of justice system involvement, program evaluation, and criminal justice policy. Her recent works have been published in American Journal of Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice and Behavior, Victims & Offenders, and Journal of Criminal Justice Education. McKenzie has been an active member in SCJA since graduate school (2018) and she supports the American Journal of Criminal Justice as a member of the editorial board and reviewer. She is the recipient of SCJA’s Outstanding Student Poster Award, Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, and Student Travel Award.

Tasha Youstin
Western Carolina University

Personal Statement I am excited to be nominated for the role of Director at Large for the Southern Criminal Justice Association. As I have been attending SCJA conferences for well over a decade, I would consider myself to be a “long-time lingerer, first-time nominee.”? I have had the opportunity to serve on various committees for our organization in the past, and would really like the opportunity to continue that service at a higher level.

I hope that those of you who already know me believe me to be a great candidate for this position. But, for those of you who do not know me, here are a few reasons why I hope you will consider voting for me. I have experience in leadership roles with other academic organizations. I have served as the chair of the membership committee for ACJS, and I have also served for many years in the North Carolina Criminal Justice Association, including two years as President, and I currently serve as Co-Treasurer. I understand the responsibilities that come with higher level service, and I am fully prepared to make that commitment. I addition to my prior experience, I am a millennial and a middle-child, so I am used to doing things for other people with a smile on my face.  In all seriousness, I have always been the type of person who enjoys helping out wherever I can, and I believe that many hands make light work. Regardless of the task I am responsible for, I try to do the best job that I can. Ultimately, I believe our organization offers incredible value to our members and the larger field of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and I want to do whatever I can to facilitate its continued success. I recently became a lifetime member of SCJA because I see myself being an active and engaged participant for many years to come, and I hope that stepping into this leadership role would allow me the chance to contribute in new ways. It would be a privilege to be selected as a Director at Large for SCJA, and as such, I would perform my duties with integrity, respect, and kindness – attributes I have always seen at the core of our membership.

Biographical Sketch Tasha Youstin, PhD is an Associate Professor at Western Carolina University. She is currently the Assistant Department Head for the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and is the Director of the Administration of Justice online undergraduate program at WCU. She completed her undergraduate degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University, her MA at the University of Florida, and her PhD at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has published research on a variety of topics in journals such as Criminal Justice and Behavior, Crime and Delinquency, and Victims and Offenders. Her current interests focus on victimization, particularly sexual victimization, and mental health issues within the criminal justice system. Tasha served as President of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Association from 2020 – 2022 and currently serves as Co-Treasurer for the organization.