Quinnipiac University Criminal Justice Students Earn National Recognition for Research

Quinnipiac University criminal justice majors Kali Kapilotis and Mary Lech were recognized with the Southern Criminal Justice Association undergraduate poster award for best research presentation at the organization’s annual meeting, held Sept. 14-18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Kapilotis, a sophomore from Bozrah,and Lech, a junior from Lawrence, New Jersey, presented their student-led research, “Embedding Social Work in Policing: Insights from a Mid-Sized Municipal Police Department,” alongside their faculty mentor, Kimberly Przeszlowski, assistant professor of criminal justice.

The collaborative study with the Milford Police Department examined how an embedded police social work program is integrated within a municipal police department and explored perspectives from 26 participants representing a range of organizational roles.

“Through this research, I gained a much better understanding of police social work and the important role these programs can play within police departments and their communities,” Lech said. “Having the opportunity to present our work and learn from others in the criminal justice field was extremely rewarding, and it made me even more excited to continue learning, conducting research and exploring opportunities in the field in the future.”

The research identified key themes related to organizational acceptance, operational integration, expanded police response, organizational challenges and program sustainability. Findings showed that police social workers can complement traditional law enforcement by providing referrals, case management and follow-up services while officers continue to focus on law enforcement and public safety responsibilities.

“Through this project, I strengthened my research methodologies, professional collaboration, and specialized knowledge within criminal justice,” Kapilotis said. “Contributing to work that offers fresh perspectives on the future of policing has not only deepened my commitment to the field, but also built my confidence as an academic researcher.”

The award recognizes the quality of the students’ research and presentation and highlights opportunities for Quinnipiac criminal justice students to engage in applied research with faculty and community partners.

“I’m incredibly proud of Mary and Kali,” said Kimberly Przeszlowski, assistant professor of criminal justice at Quinnipiac. “They dedicated a tremendous amount of time not only to preparing for the conference, but to thinking critically through the research process, refining their work, and understanding the decisions behind it. Their attention to detail and commitment really showed. They represented our Criminal Justice Department and Quinnipiac exceptionally well.”

About Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 9,700 students in more than 100 degree programs through its Schools of Business, Communications, Education, Computing and Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing and the College of Arts & Sciences. Quinnipiac is ranked 51st in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse “2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.” and is also recognized by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review’s “The Best 392 Colleges.” The university is expanding innovative programs for both traditional and adult learners and developing dynamic corporate partnerships. Quinnipiac recently completed a significant capital expansion on its main campus, including a state-of-the-art new School of Business and an interdisciplinary science and innovation hub. For more information, please visit qu.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook and Instagram and follow Quinnipiac on X @QuinnipiacU.