Excelsior University Criminal Justice Graduate Kimberly Dove Earns Honors for Her Work with Incarcerated Youth
In her role as chaplain at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, Kimberly Dove makes a positive impact on at-risk and incarcerated youth every day. Dove’s innovative work with young people in the juvenile justice system earned her the 2023 Department of Youth Services Employee of the Year Award at the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility. She has been recognized nationally as an expert in her field, presenting at the fall National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) conference on methods for discouraging youth from joining gangs. She accomplished all this while pursuing a Criminal Justice degree at Excelsior University. Dove graduated from the program in June.
Dove came to criminal justice from a prior career in social work, initially volunteering within the prison system community. She discovered Excelsior University upon beginning her work in corrections, as the flexibility of Excelsior’s online programs allowed Dove to learn on her own time while often working long, unpredictable hours with sporadic access to the internet. She earned an Associate in Science in Liberal Arts in 2017 and recently completed a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
“I always encourage the youth I work with to pursue an education, because I know that continuing my learning with Excelsior has allowed me to have a greater impact on my community,” said Dove. “I’ve been able to put the knowledge from my Criminal Justice classes into action right away in my career and see the positive change on those we serve.”
At the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, Dove uses the game of chess to help youth with mental health issues and gang backgrounds change the course of their futures. After working with the National Chess Federation and a neighboring county using a similar tool, she developed a chess program to help youthful offenders with critical thinking skills and in making strategic decisions that can be applied to life experiences. Her chess program is so successful that she has a waitlist.
Her job as chaplain involves much more than chess. Dove’s extensive knowledge of religious laws helps ensure that youthful offenders have what they need to practice their faith at the facility. She also takes a proactive role in the community’s safety by learning the signs of gang activity and taking preventative action.
“Kimberly Dove is a true inspiration, not just to her peers in the criminal justice system and the youth she serves at Indian River, but to her fellow Excelsior University students and graduates,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University. “Kimberly’s story is a great example for busy, working adult learners, demonstrating how education can fit into a demanding schedule and support a successful career. We are proud that Kimberly Dove is part of the Excelsior community.”
Learn more about Kimberly’s story here: https://www.excelsior.edu/article/kimberly-dove-criminal-justice-degree-chess-story/
# # #
Media Contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
ABOUT EXCELSIOR UNIVERSITY
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
