“Best of the best.” That’s how Chris Crafford, an international student from Cape Town, describes PennWest faculty who combine real-world experience with up-to-date knowledge. Arriving in 2019, he explored options with advisors, met Dr. Raymond Hsieh, and found his direction in Criminal Justice with a focus on Cyber Forensics and Digital Investigations—earning his bachelor’s cum laude and moving straight into a master’s in Criminal Justice and Criminology with dual concentrations, including Behavioral Crime Analysis.

Chris chose to keep studying in the U.S. to deepen expertise not readily available at home. The draw was both academic and personal: faculty who open labs, raise bar-setting expectations, and translate theory into investigative craft—where retrieving deleted files, interpreting digital artifacts and understanding offender behavior fit together. “It really adds to the experience when your instructor who's teaching you about investigations has real-world experience working on cases and who has a career history in that field.” he says.

Campus life sharpened soft skills, too—community assistant, tour guide, graduate assistant—roles that demanded communication, teamwork and accountability. Looking ahead 5–10 years, Chris sees himself in digital investigations and consulting, energized by a field that never stands still. “What is happening in the field now is not going to be the same in 5 years… I know I’m not going to get bored.”