Alivia Androff
Alivia Androff of West Frankfort, Illinois, has been awarded the Criminal Justice Scholarship. She aspires to work in law enforcement and create more opportunities for women in the industry.
“From the beginning, women have been a minority in law enforcement, making up only a small percentage of police officers and an even smaller number in leadership positions,” she said. “Even though progress has been made over the years, women in policing still face many challenges.”
With this scholarship, Androff plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in forensic investigation.
“Increasing the number of women in law enforcement is not only important for fairness but also for building trust with communities and creating a stronger, more balanced police force,” she said.
Dustin Davis
Dustin Davis of Adairsville, Georgia, has been named the recipient of the NAEMT Scholarship. He currently works as a full-time EMS educator.
“My life and career in emergency medical services have uniquely prepared me for the degree program I’m pursuing,” he said. “With years of experience as both a field provider and now a full-time EMS educator, I’ve developed a strong foundation in clinical knowledge, critical thinking and real-time decision-making—skills that directly align with academic success in a science-based degree program.”
With this scholarship, Davis plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in emergency medical services administration.
“Many of the students I teach are working EMTs and paramedics—people trying to better themselves while serving their communities,” he said. “They look to me not just for instruction but for guidance and encouragement. Advancing my own education helps me set a powerful example that continued learning is not only possible but necessary in our field.”
Elizabeth Steele
Elizabeth Steele of Nunnelly, Tennessee, has been awarded the Learning Partner Scholarship. She works for Amazon Corporate and is looking to transition into a senior management role.
“The most significant influence on my decision to apply to Columbia Southern University was a highly-respected mentor—a former manager who played a vital role in shaping my professional career,” she said. “Under his guidance, I experienced a significant turning point, not only excelling in my day-to-day role but also developing and successfully implementing a safety scorecard that was ultimately adopted across our entire business unit.”
With this scholarship, Steele will pursue a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health.
“The most critical challenge currently facing the occupational health and safety (OHS) field is the pervasive workplace mental health crisis,” she said. “Traditional OHS models focus almost exclusively on physical hazards, but modern professional culture introduces complex psychological risks that demand urgent attention. My pursuit of this advanced degree at CSU is specifically aimed at gaining the strategic knowledge required to pioneer comprehensive programs that treat psychological well-being as a critical workplace hazard, enabling me to drive industry-leading change.”
Shannon Carpenter
Shannon Carpenter of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been named the recipient of the Doctor of Emergency Management Scholarship. He serves as an adjunct professor at Western Carolina University, where he teaches undergraduate courses in emergency and disaster management.
“Earning the Doctor of Emergency Management from Columbia Southern University is more than a personal goal; it’s a deliberate step in a long-term professional journey,” he said. “Personally, this represents a defining achievement as a first-generation college graduate. Professionally, it aligns with my transition from operational leadership in military civil affairs to an academic and strategic role in emergency management education and global policy development.”
Carpenter has worked in emergency management for 15 years and is looking to expand his knowledge to directly support and elevate the emergency management field.
“As an adjunct professor, I already contribute to workforce development by preparing future emergency managers at the undergraduate level,” he said. “With this terminal degree, I aim to expand that work by developing specialized curricula rooted in both research and field experience.”
Brian Wood
Brian Wood of Atlanta, Georgia, has been awarded the Atlanta Fire Rescue Scholarship. He has worked in the fire and emergency management field since 2011.
“My career has taught me the importance of education in improving leadership, efficiency and service quality,” said Wood. “I have seen firsthand how knowledge and training can transform not just individual performance but the success of an entire organization. Completing my degrees would allow me to apply new skills in communication, analysis and business management to strengthen emergency services and better serve my community.”
With this scholarship, Wood plans to complete his MBA with the goal of becoming commissioner of public safety.
“I am confident that my years of field experience, leadership roles and dedication to service have provided the foundation I need to excel academically,” he said. “With the education I gain from CSU, I will be able to enhance my leadership, expand my knowledge and continue making a lasting impact on my department and community.”
Matt Karnick
Matt Karnick of Apple Valley, Minnesota, has been named the recipient of the Learning Partner Scholarship. He is currently the deputy fire chief with the Apple Valley Fire Department.
“I started as a paid-on-call firefighter for my hometown in 2013…” he said. “I am now the deputy fire chief in the city where I grew up, and my goal is to one day become the fire chief. In order to do that, I want to ensure that I have all the necessary education and training to be fully prepared for that responsibility when the time comes and continue to give back to my community.”
With this scholarship, Karnick plans to pursue a master’s degree in fire executive leadership.
“My goal is to reach out to additional departments in our area and try to join forces to expand our training academy,” he said. “I believe that college and a higher level of education will help me with my goal by improving my reading and writing skills to create a robust training program that will be able to continue for the years to come, no matter who is in charge of the academy.”
Darien Tabor
Darien Tabor of Atlanta, Georgia, has been awarded the Atlanta Police Department Scholarship.
“Earning a degree can sharpen important skills such as networking, time management, problem-solving and the ability to process and retain information,” he said.
With this scholarship, Tabor plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration.
“Throughout my time with the department, I’ve come to understand that excelling in these areas can make a significant difference in one’s effectiveness as a lieutenant, “he said. “I’m confident that, combined with my job experience, a college education will not only help me reach my five-year goal of earning that promotion but also prepare me for future leadership roles beyond the rank of lieutenant.”
Derek Baker
Derek Baker of Shoreview, Minnesota, has been named the recipient of the Doctor of Fire Integrated Research Scholarship. He is currently employed with the St. Paul Fire Department and has served 17 years in multiple roles leading up to his current role as an officer.
“The greatest challenge will be balancing the demands of doctoral study with my responsibilities as a father, husband and officer in a high-volume department experiencing a 63% increase in calls over the past decade,” he said. “To overcome this, I will rely on time management, the support of my family and the same resilience that carried me through deployments, paramedic training and countless fireground challenges.”
Baker plans to use his doctorate to better the community and his department.
“With this doctorate, I will be better prepared to advance initiatives that strengthen our roots and expand our capacity,” he said. “Courses in organizational behavior, data analytics, resilience and cross-cultural theory will directly apply to St. Paul’s needs, helping us recruit and retain firefighters, build sustainable community partnerships and design strategies that address inequities in service delivery. I will also use the degree to write, teach and mentor, ensuring that future leaders understand that education and service are inseparable.”
For more information about Columbia Southern University’s scholarships, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Scholarships.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
