BGSU graduate finds fulfilling career path with Ohio State Highway Patrol

Marceana Black ’25 turns internship opportunity as a BGSU student into a full-time career 

During an internship with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Marceana Black ’25 took an affirming, up-close look into the world of law enforcement.

As she pursued a degree in criminal justice from Bowling Green State University, Black was no observer during her internship. 

Stationed in her native Toledo, Black helped the agency as it conducted its normal business — and in the process confirmed a career in law enforcement was exactly what she wanted to do.

“I had a partner and was on road patrol, and seven days a week, we would write crash reports, tickets and do traffic stops, but I’ve also done OVI investigations, fatal crashes and drug interdictions — it was something new almost literally every day,” she said. “It was really eye-opening, but also fun and an experience that put into perspective what law enforcement really is for a career.”

After transferring to BGSU to pursue a bachelor's degree, Black said she connected with the criminal justice curriculum and faculty as she prepared for her own career.

Criminal justice students have a broad range of career options from which to pick and the chance to engage with experts in various fields, including law enforcement, at BGSU.

Two BGSU alumni working with the Lorain (Ohio) Police Department travel to campus once per week to teach in-person classes, giving aspiring law enforcement officers like Black the chance to learn from active professionals while they are undergraduates.

“I think it’s really motivating to students to have multiple professors who not only have a law enforcement background, but have a real-world perspective of what to expect, how to deal with the highs and the lows of the career and so much experience to draw from,” Black said. “It really gives you a lot of points of view on the careers in criminal justice.

“They brought a different perspective from the book literature by giving real-life examples that let you see the ins and outs of the career. Some of it is really eye-opening, but it helps you understand what the career really looks like.”

Associate teaching professor Catherine Pape, who serves as the director of the Criminal Justice Learning Community, said the range of professors in the major gives students a well-rounded understanding of what one can do with a degree in criminal justice. 

During the course of their undergraduate studies at BGSU, students learn from accomplished professionals, ranging from award-winning researchers to active law enforcement officers to experts in the court system, painting a complete picture of the criminal justice field. 

"The program brings together full-time faculty who provide academic depth and research expertise with adjunct instructors who are active professionals in the field," Pape said. "This combination gives students both a strong understanding of criminal justice principles and practical, up-to-date knowledge they can apply directly to their careers."

Upon being selected for an internship by the OSHP, Black took the opportunity and ran with it. 

Though she had experience from her BGSU classes and anecdotal information from a family member in law enforcement, Black said she knew within her first month of her internship that being an officer was the career path for her.

“Once I saw it up close, I saw it as a big family that looks out for each other and where people have a lot of long-lasting friendships,” Black said. “Also, getting to know different people from different agencies really helped me grow and thrive.”

As she prepares to take on a career in law enforcement full-time, Black said the opportunity has led her to fulfill a calling.

“I see it as a selfless act, not just a career,” she said. “It’s a life purpose or a life mission.”