With support from Lindenwood University’s President’s Research, Innovation, and Development toward Excellence (PRIDE) Fund, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Dr. Weston Anderson is studying mental health and social support offered to police cadets during academy training. Anderson is providing hands-on student research experience while creating findings that could help police academies better support future recruits.
When Anderson arrived at Lindenwood, he was inspired by the University’s working relationship with the St. Louis County Police Department. This relationship encouraged him to continue his research on workplace dynamics among police officers. Lindenwood senior Taylor Bertubin helped Anderson shape the project beyond its original scope. Since Bertubin joined the project, she has taken a central role, assisting Anderson with data collection and analysis. Her interest in studying mental health led to the addition of further questions that analyze cadets’ access to support.
In April, Bertubin presented initial findings at the Lindenwood Showcase. The showcase panel of judges awarded her presentation the best proposal project. Now, Anderson and Bertubin are preparing to take their findings to the American Society of Criminology conference, which will be held in Chicago this November. Anderson said this experience could prove valuable for Bertubin as she pursues future studies. He said seeing Bertubin discover a field of research that she is passionate about made the project worthwhile.
The PRIDE Fund allows Anderson and Bertubin to spend more time focused on data collection and analysis. The grant pays for software that converts their paper surveys into usable data, a process that saves hours. For Anderson, the University’s support played an essential role in the project’s success.
Having arrived at Lindenwood in 2024, Anderson described it as rare for a new faculty member to have such access to conduct research in police academies. The trust that the University and local police academies have shown reflects the genuine care for the well-being of cadets and recruits. Anderson plans to share his findings with participating academies to help them identify ways to ensure this well-being. Through Anderson’s research, the PRIDE Fund grant supports student experience while contributing to a positive impact in the surrounding community.