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Charting a Course of Learning and Discovery

World View Faculty/Staff

Charting a Course of Learning and Discovery

By Trish Shea

DR. MELISSA STACER, Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ), is equally at home in the classroom as she is on the trail. A dedicated scholar with a passion for corrections in the criminal justice system—including institutional systems, re-entry and the collateral consequences of incarceration—Stacer's worldview is shaped not just by academic inquiry but also by her adventurous spirit and deep connection to the outdoors.

An expert in her field, Stacer teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, from Criminological Theory and Ethics to Community Corrections and the Death Penalty. Her research spans diverse topics such as prison culture, justice-involved veterans and criminal justice education. She also currently serves as President of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences. Yet, outside of academic life, she has found another powerful way to engage with the world: through hiking.

What began as a shared interest with her husband in 2016 has grown into a defining part of her lifestyle. Stacer has logged more than 3,000 miles of walking and hiking since 2020, more than 250 miles this year alone. Her domestic treks are rooted in the Midwest, where she frequents the trails of southern Indiana and Illinois. She especially enjoys Ferne Clyffe State Park and Lincoln State Park and uses the USI-Burdette Trail for weekday walks.

"The USI trails are amazing," she said. "I often see deer, hear birdsong and even spot the occasional owl. It's also a wonderful way to feel part of a community."

While weekend hikes close to home are a staple, Stacer also carves out time each year for a more ambitious international journey. In 2022, she and her friend, Noel, completed the final 100 kilometers of Spain's famous Camino de Santiago. A year later, they hiked 35 kilometers of Italy's Via Francigena, from San Miniato to Siena. Most recently, she and her husband, David, walked the 84-mile Hadrian's Wall Path across England over nine days. "These trips are physically demanding but incredibly rewarding," she said. "There's something powerful about reaching each destination with your own two feet, immersed in the geography, history and culture of a place."

Stacer sees these hiking experiences as more than just physical challenges; they're opportunities for reflection, perspective and learning.

"Hiking has shown me both how large and how small the world really is. People everywhere have so much in common. I try to bring that understanding into the classroom."

Growing up in a small Michigan town of 800 people, Stacer understands the sense of limitation some students may feel about exploring the broader world. That's why she shares her own story to show that it's possible. "Whether students are interested in hiking or not doesn't matter," she said. "What matters is realizing you can feel connected to something much larger than yourself. My motto is: 'Don't wait. Plan the trip. Start working toward your bucket list now.'"

While hiking doesn't directly connect to the field of criminal justice, Stacer believes it enhances her role as an educator. She often draws from her hiking adventures, book club discussions (she's in three) and her role in launching the True Crime Book Club at USI to illustrate how learning happens everywhere—not just in classrooms. "These experiences help students see that lifelong learning is not just a concept. It's a way of life," she said.

Ultimately, Stacer's worldview is shaped by her belief in movement—through physical space, intellectual inquiry and personal growth. Whether guiding students through the complexities of the justice system or trekking across Europe one step at a time, she leads by example. Keep going. Stay curious. Never stop exploring.

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