Jazmine Goode
A Ferris State University Criminal Justice alumna and former Homecoming Queen is returning to school as Jazmine Goode begins second-year studies this fall at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Goode is a Detroit native who graduated from Ferris State in Fall 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. A campus leader as an undergraduate, Goode was a cheer team member and was involved with You Beautiful Black Woman, T.O.W.E.R.S. (Teaching Others What Establishes Real Success), Lambda Alpha Epsilon and the Black Student Union in addition to working as a new student orientation leader and bookstore employee.
Goode reflects fondly on her time in Big Rapids and how her Bulldog roots continue to pay off for her professionally.
“Ferris gave me the connections, as Matt Chaney, who was with the Office of Multicultural Student Services in my time on campus, wrote a letter of recommendation to the college,” Goode said. “That relationship was very important in terms of my reaching this goal. Ferris graduates are found throughout my professional experience. Wearing a Bulldog pin to my job interview was a bonus. It was received positively by my interviewer since our Criminal Justice program is seen as grounded in real-world practices, which provides graduates who are ready to serve and excel in their field.”
After graduating from Ferris State, Goode returned home to work in Wayne County’s parole system through her first year at Detroit Mercy. In 2022, she started studying law.
“I felt that to do my best, I had to step away from my probationer and parole duties,” Goode said. “I was involved with those convicted on gun charges, fraud and even murder counts, and the demands of that assistance meant that I chose to prioritize my studies.”
As a full-time student, Goode is finding parallels between her professional interests and her law coursework.
“At this time, criminal law is what I find appealing, but I am considering all aspects of the law as I continue my studies,” Goode said. “I am open to all these considerations.”
Goode recently completed on-campus interviews with a variety of Detroit-area law firms.
“It is important to network with firms and offices as soon as possible in your law school experience,” Goode said. “I explored a variety of options and may find myself with the Federal Court offices in Detroit, or an assistant U.S. Attorney General’s team. It was an exciting and interesting process.”
Another aspect of second-year studies is participation in Moot Court, a student organization offering hands-on lawyering opportunities to further refine its members’ communication and advocacy talents by exposing them to simulated appellate court experiences.
“I will apply as appropriate in our Winter term,” Goode explained. “We would be before licensed judges, learning in proceedings along with other Detroit-Mercy students. I am looking forward to the opportunity, regardless of how it turns out.”
Goode said she will be keeping a sharp eye out for Ferris alumni as she continues her legal studies, as she did while working in the parole and probation system. Goode said those acquaintances tell her she is in a good place, as she looks to another chapter in her career.
“You can always find a Bulldog along the way,” Goode said. “I am looking forward to making more acquaintances and meeting the challenges necessary to succeed in my goals.”