Valedictorian: Hailey Khatchatourian, BA '22

Name: Hailey Khatchatourian
Hometown: Huntington Station, NY
Majors: Criminal Justice and Psychology
Awards: Dean’s List (all semesters); Dean’s Award for Scholarship; Valedictorian Award, Undergraduate Research Assistantship Award

What activities were you involved in during your time at UAlbany?

I have been involved in many different clubs, organizations, and societies at UAlbany where I have been able to connect with students across the university. In terms of academic organizations, I am an active member in Presidential Honor Society, Tau Sigma Honor Society, and Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. I also served as the undergraduate student board member on the Independent Review Committee for University Police Department during my senior year. I have spent many semesters joining and trying out new clubs, including Women Excelling in Business, UAlbany Wishmakers on Campus, UAlbany Students for Sustainability, and Circle K.  

What were some highlight experiences of your undergraduate career?

I served as an undergraduate student committee member on the Independent Review Committee for the University Police Department. This experience gave me the chance to represent and serve the UAlbany community by reviewing UPD’s response to concerns and complaints filed through the police department. This was a highlight for me because I was able to gain a new perspective on the policing field which is an area I am interested in conducting criminal justice research on in the future. 

Through a job announcement from my academic advisor, I applied and was accepted to participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates at Wayne State University last summer. This semester, I was able to present a poster of my research findings at the ACJS conference in Las Vegas. It was a great experience exploring a new part of the country as well as sharing my research findings with other scholars in the criminal justice field.  

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

During my senior year, I served as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Robert Worden. I assisted on a project relating to procedural justice, police legitimacy, and compliance with the law. This opportunity not only gave me the chance to learn from a scholar and professor, but also gave me practical experience in the field of research. I am proud of the work I have done on this project to date because it will lead to a publication in the near future. I am also proud because the findings from this research project can add to the empirical evidence guiding policing reform. 

What is next for you after graduation?

Following graduation, I will be enrolling in George Mason University’s Criminology, Law, and Society Doctoral Program. My experience at UAlbany has bolstered my interest in academia and research in the field of criminal justice and I look forward to applying what I learned during my undergraduate career to my future endeavors.