Georgia Gwinnett College recently hosted an event where students studying criminal justice had the opportunity to engage with agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) about potential career paths and job expectations.
Caliyah Jefferson, a junior majoring in criminal justice and resident of McDonough, shared her motivation for entering the field. “I want to be in a position to contribute by helping bring justice for people and not be afraid of the criminal justice system,” she said.
During the session, GBI Special Agent Turner explained the agency’s structure, which includes four main divisions: forensic science, Georgia Crime Information Center, investigative division, and medical examiner’s office. Turner highlighted that GBI operates on a request-only basis. “One thing that many people don’t know is that GBI is a request-only agency,” Turner said. “We are here to help all Georgia law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, police departments and by directive, the Governor of Georgia.”
Turner encouraged students interested in working with GBI to consider internships as an entry point into the agency. “That’s what I did and I couldn’t recommend it more,” she said. “You really get hands-on experience.”
Dr. Susan Quinn, associate professor at GGC, emphasized the importance of exposing students to professionals working in criminal justice fields. “I want students to have the chance to see there are a lot of different pathways for careers and jobs in the criminal justice system,” Quinn said. “A great way to do that is bringing in professionals and meeting them outside the classroom.”
Connor Salmon, a senior from Lawrenceville studying criminal justice at GGC, described his takeaways from interacting with GBI representatives. “I want to start as a law enforcement officer and learn more about the day-to-day operations and how they are different from other divisions,” he said.
The presence of GGC alumni within GBI was also noted during the event. Special Agent Beyer has worked with GBI since 2020 after graduating from Georgia Gwinnett College. Reflecting on his time at college, Beyer stated: “The campus has really grown since I was a student here,” he said. “I had a very positive experience here and that helped me in my career path.” Beyer previously handled cases related to public corruption and homicide before joining Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes in July 2025. He explained his motivation: “I started with Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes in July because I want to help look out for and protect the children of Georgia,” he said.
