Mingxi Tong Discovered a Passion for Research at Seattle University

Some students begin graduate school with a clear vision of where they want to go. Others discover new possibilities along the way.

For Mingxi Tong, what started as a curiosity sparked by true crime grew into a deeper interest in understanding crime, society, and the research that helps explain both. Three years after beginning Seattle University's Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, Tong is preparing to graduate in 2026 with a passion for research that has inspired her to consider pursuing a doctoral degree.

After beginning her career in the tech sector, Tong found herself drawn to a field that offered far more depth than many people realize. “When I tell people I study criminology, I think their reaction is either, oh, ‘Is it law enforcement?’ or ‘Is it forensic psychology?’ That’s their traditional understanding of the field, but it’s much more than that.”  

At Seattle University, Tong found opportunities to explore that complexity through faculty mentorship, collaborative research, and hands-on learning. Her experience reshaped how she thinks about criminology and where she hopes her career will take her next.

The Journey to a Second Graduate Degree

Tong brings an interdisciplinary background to her studies in criminology. Specifically, she completed a financial management undergraduate degree and an international public policy master’s degree before pursuing her graduate work at Seattle University. After completing her first two degrees, she worked in business and product management in the technology sector.  

It wasn’t until Tong saw a Facebook ad about Seattle University’s Master of Arts program in Criminal Justice that she began to consider how her passions lead to the next step of her career. After researching the program, Tong decided to get in touch with program faculty to learn more.  

How Seattle University’s Faculty Bring Criminology to Life

After a persuasive meeting with the department’s Graduate Director, Dr. Elaine Gunnison, Tong made the decision to enroll as a second-time graduate student. Through a range of innovative courses, she soon learned that the discipline of criminal justice was broader than she had initially imagined.

Tong particularly enjoyed the diverse perspectives from department faculty. She overviews some of the subfields and topic areas she was able to learn about through her graduate courses: “And for criminology, there is the traditional domain and also there is a critical criminology, which they talk about new phenomena in a critical society and criminology field. For example, like green criminology or like queer criminology. So a lot of new focus and new shift from the traditional domain.”

Tong notes some of the faculty who fueled her passion for criminology:  

• Dr. Elaine Gunnison: Tong is impressed with Dr. Gunnison’s research in criminology. When considering her academic future, Tong is especially grateful for the skills in writing and research that she developed in Dr. Gunnison’s research methods course.  
• Dr. Jacqueline Helfgott: As the foremost expert in copycat crime, Tong benefited from Dr. Helfgott’s scholarship and teaching in the criminal justice field.  
• Dr. Brooke Gialopsos: The perspectives on the underappreciated field of victimology and gender-based violence made an impact on Tong.

Building Connections Through Collaborative Learning

Beyond her work with cutting-edge faculty, Tong also enjoyed the meaningful collaborations with her peers in the graduate program. Across the curriculum, she had the opportunity to partner with colleagues for assignments and participate in meaningful in-class discussions.

Many classmates also came from an interdisciplinary background and brought varied professional experiences that enriched conversations in the classroom, just like Tong herself. She reflects, “I really appreciate that fellow peers come from different backgrounds as well. Many of them either studied different things from undergrad or they worked in different fields.” This diverse perspective came through in group work, as well as in-class discussions.  

Varied points of view are critical to the field of criminology. Tong explains that “to have a person that you can discuss or multiple persons that you can discuss the issues with and someone who can play devil's advocate and someone who can have other roles is really critical for you to expand your thoughts outside of your own box and outside of your textbook.” Life experience helps Tong and her classmates better understand some of the complex phenomena they studied in their courses.  

Turning Classroom Learning into Real-World Impact

Students in the criminology master’s program benefit from projects that provide real-world applications. This gives graduate students the opportunity to see the impact of their research, as well as gain hands-on experience with how criminology knowledge intersects with different professional roles.  

Tong mentions one specific project she developed in Dr. Gunnison’s research methods course. The class collaborated with the Lake Forest Police Department to design a survey that was later implemented. This project involved interviewing several members of the department. Tong notes, “That real life experience is what graduate students look for.”  

While at Seattle University, Tong accomplished several noteworthy research projects. She recently published an article in the Journal of Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law & Society (CCJLS) entitled “The New Actor: Artificial Intelligence in Criminology and Criminal Justice.” Additionally, Tong also presented two papers at the Western Society of Criminology Conference in Seattle in 2025. The papers were “Beyond Digital Crime: The Case for AI Criminology as a Standalone Discipline” and “The Foodways to Delinquency in Early Adolescents.”  

Although Tong had not previously considered pursuing a doctorate, her passion for research has led her to consider extending her study after graduating with her master’s degree. She explains that the rigorous approach to research is a stark, and welcome, difference to the pace of work in the tech world. In the meantime, Tong is looking into PhD programs across the country, since Seattle U does not have a doctoral offering.  

Advice for Future Seattle University Graduate Students

Even though Tong completed a master’s degree prior to enrolling at Seattle University, her studies in criminology required new skills, especially as it pertains to research. “I didn't experience as many research opportunities in my first master's degree, to be honest with you,” she reflects. “But now I really appreciate that we can sit down and dive into a problem and the ability to research and synthesize with other people's findings are critical. And then I do want to see how I can take that further, maybe through more study or teaching or doing more research in the future.”

As she prepares for graduation and the potential for future research, Tong offers advice for prospective graduate students.  

• Enter the program with a clear goal. Make sure you know your reason for enrolling, be it a job requirement or personal passion. “Just don’t do it because you have to have a master’s degree,” Tong urges. When you remember your “why,” it’s easier to get through the difficulties of graduate study and keep perspective on the experience.  
• Manage your pace, and decide early on how long you want to spend in the program. For instance, students can choose to complete the degree in one year, or extend their study for two or three years.
• Leverage the unique academic environment for skill development. Take advantage of this time to focus on skills like writing literature reviews and performing research. This is a chance to focus on developing new competencies rather than entirely focusing on professional pressures. Tong provides a helpful reminder: “I think sometimes grad students can get really bogged down in the rigor and all the expectations and they don't always remember that they are supposed to enjoy it.”
• Explore electives, and consult your advisor when choosing courses to make sure they align with your interests. “Now I'm graduating and I haven't finished all the courses I really, really, truly want to take because there are just so many of them.” Tong admits, “But I think choosing the courses that you really want to work on is art.”

Advance Your Career in Criminal Justice at Seattle University

When reflecting on her time studying at the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics at Seattle University at Seattle University, Tong is grateful for the opportunity to immerse herself in a fascinating discipline, learn from accomplished faculty, and complete meaningful research with her colleagues.  

Students at Seattle University benefit from an interdisciplinary approach that focuses on the social response to crime. Courses of study are available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with the following list of bachelor’s degrees offered:  

• Criminal Justice and Criminology BA: Complete a broad range of courses to learn more about the study of crime and its social response.
• Forensic Psychology BA or BS: Prepare for careers in forensics when you apply psychology to criminal justice, including corrections, casework, or victim advocacy.
• Forensic Science BS: Students in the Forensic Science program go on to work in crime laboratories and complete legal death investigations.

Seattle University also offers a range of graduate and certificate programs:

• Criminal Justice and Criminology BA/MA: Criminology students interested in pursuing both an undergrad and graduate degree can expedite graduation with this five-year program.
• Criminal Justice MA: Graduate students in this track can choose between specializations in criminal justice research and evaluation, investigative criminology, or victimology.
• Criminal Justice Online MA: A flexible, online learning format is available for students who need to tailor their graduate education.
• Criminal Justice MA/JD: This four-year program allows law students to complete their MA in criminal justice concurrently.
• Certificate in Crime Analysis: This certificate is designed to help students gain the skills necessary for entry-level crime analysis positions.

Check out the Seattle University Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics offerings and explore the available research opportunities.