Meet Sydney Allen, a Global Terrorism Studies student and current undergraduate teaching assistant for “Innovations in Countering Violent Extremism.”
How did you find out about the Global Terrorism Studies Minor, and what motivated you to join?
My sophomore year, I was a Government and Politics major, and that had a language requirement. I met a GTSM student in my Arabic class who encouraged me to look into the program, as I always had an interest in national security and counter-terrorism. I browsed the START website and got to see all the amazing work being done such as internationally recognized research, internship opportunities, and the undergraduate minor program. Soon after, I applied to be a part of the GTSM program after seeing all the interesting courses being offered!
Which class or classes in the minor have been most influential in your academic career?
The most influential course I have taken in the GTSM program was BSST335: Innovations in Countering Violent Extremism. This course taught by Dr. Pate, the Director of START, was one of the very few classes I've taken as an undergraduate that was genuinely engaging. It was so interesting to learn about different societal reasons for radicalization and global community interventions and programs designed to prevent this. What made this class stand out was that in the second half of the semester, we were able to collaborate with a group of our peers on designing our own CVE program to present at the end of the semester. Considering factors like funding, community partners, timelines, and evaluations really gives students a new outlook on the effectiveness and consideration of these programs.
How does the minor complement your major in Criminology and Criminal Justice?
Within the CCJS major, a lot of content is focused on criminological theories and reasons for committing crimes, whether it is societal, personal, or environmental. I have seen these patterns mirrored when discussing theories for radicalization in GTSM courses. Being able to identify these connections and notice repeated concepts across majors/minors has been extremely interesting.
How does helping as an undergraduate teaching assistant enhance your understanding of the course material?
Serving as an undergraduate teaching assistant for BSST335 deepened my understanding of Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) by encouraging a shift from an interactive learning experience to an analytical one. Observing group work and providing feedback on peer engagement helps me evaluate how others process and apply the material. Additionally, while taking the course, I was extremely focused on thinking forward to my P/CVE program. As a UTA, I am able to be present while creating notesheets for class content and am able to analyze and break down each concept further. This has definitely assisted in enhancing my understanding of the course material. Which will in turn, help me assist in students learning as I am becoming more well versed in the content.
What are your career plans after you graduate?
After becoming a Criminology and Criminal Justice major, I always knew I was interested in some form of investigative/analytical work. After taking BSST334: States of Emergency, I was introduced to threat assessment, the ability to identify, evaluate, and manage potential threats and violent situations before they occur. Being able to take my skills of pattern recognition and understanding of criminal theory/mindsets, I will be well equipped to assist in these assessments and pursue a career in domestic/international terrorism threat assessment and risk management.
What advice would you give to undergraduate students considering the GTSM program?
I encourage you to fully immerse yourself in this experience. Don't treat these courses like a GenEd and just show up for participation. Engage and participate with the course content, analyze and challenge concepts with your peers, and make yourself known to your professors. These classes will give you such an unique and interesting academic experience that can possibly introduce you to a new career field, or simply teach you something new.