Photo of Riley Poteet

School of Justice Studies Student Spotlight – Rylie Poteet

Rylie Poteet is a Junior in the School of Justice Studies at Eastern Kentucky University. Originally from Louisville, KY, she is double majoring in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security. Rylie is also minoring in Disaster Management and pursuing three certificates in Geographic Information Systems, Security Management, and Intelligence Studies.

In recognition of her hard work and academic achievements, Rylie has been awarded the Legacy Scholarship and an EKU merit scholarship. She has also made the Dean’s list three times as well as earned the President’s award three times. Additionally, Rylie is a member of the Order of the Sword and Shield as well as a member of the Homeland Security National Honors Society.

In speaking with Rylie about her decision to attend EKU and why she knew it was a great fit for her career goals, she said, my stepdad graduated from EKU and continued on to be a police officer and detective for Louisville Metro Police Department. I toured at another major university here in Kentucky and then EKU soon after. During the EKU tour, I fell in love with the campus size, the city of Richmond, and the welcoming atmosphere. At the end of the tour, I felt EKU would be my second home, I felt safe and welcomed at a university I had always heard amazing things about. I knew I wanted to major in Criminal Justice and heard that EKU was the best school for that.

When asked about the inspiration to pursue a career in Criminal Justice, Rylie said,

I have always loved true crime documentaries, fictional crime shows and movies, and a passion grew as I learned more about the criminal justice system…I originally came to EKU seeking a major in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. The very next semester I changed to a double major in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security, as I loved all things homeland, as well as the systematic view of the criminal justice system.

Rylie also shared that she has garnered considerable knowledge from some of the best professors in her field of studies. She also stated, “EKU has taught me how to network with criminal justice and homeland security professionals through the many career and internship fairs hosted on campus.”

While Rylie has shared many positive experiences of her time here in the College of Justice, Safety and Military Science, one particularly notable experience was a class field trip to the Kentucky State Emergency Operations Center. In recollecting the experience, Rylie said “That trip opened my eyes and sparked an interest in disaster management, how Kentucky prepares, responds, and prevents disasters to protect its citizens.”

Rylie is also excited about the internship she has secured with Richmond Police Department which will begin in the Fall of 2024. She hopes this will not only lead to her acquiring more career knowledge but will also further her professional networking.

As for job plans after graduation Rylie has a strong interest in working for a federal agency. In her own words she states,

I have always wanted to be a special agent in the FBI, but in recent years I have been majorly interested in disaster management. I have considered working for KYEM or FEMA but may also resort back to my original dream of being an FBI agent. I’ll certainly continue to explore everything Homeland Security and Criminal Justice have to offer.

For all of us in the School of Justice Studies, it has been very rewarding to have Rylie as a student, and as a member of our School. It is also exciting to witness all of Rylie’s hard work come to fruition, as she continues towards graduation and gets ready to start what is sure to be a productive and impactful career. Wherever Rylie ends up, they will be very lucky to have her.

Published 03/27/2024