Rock, Rejection, & Redirection to Research
Before he became a gun violence researcher, Dan Semenza – faculty in the Criminal Justice graduate program – was chasing something entirely different: music, uncertainty, and a path that didn’t yet have a name. In “How I Became a Gun Violence Researcher (Even Though I Had No Idea What I Was Doing)”, a recent post for the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Semenza reflects on that nonlinear journey, one shaped as much as rejection and redirection as by discovery. From early ambitions of playing in bands to navigating multiple PhD denials, his story underscores a reality that many students on our campus recognize: the path into research is rarely straightforward, and often only makes sense in retrospect.
What ultimately reshaped that path was not a single decision, but a moment – the Sandy Hook tragedy – that reframed his academic interests and pushed him toward questions of violence, prevention, and public health. That shift led him into criminology, into collaborative research environments, and eventually into a body of work grounded in real-world impact. Along the way, Semenza highlights mentorship, persistence, and an openness to change – not as abstractions, but as experiences that guided each step forward.
His reflection is less about arrival and more about process – how curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to adapt shape a career over time. For anyone thinking about research, graduate study, or what comes next, this piece offers something more useful than a roadmap: a clear reminder that meaningful work often begins before the path is fully visible.
Related to this Story:
Advancing Justice: The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program
The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University–Camden equips students with an advanced understanding of criminal justice and public policy principles. The 30-credit program includes core courses in policy analysis, research methods, and data analysis, complemented by electives that allow for specialization. Designed to accommodate both working professionals and traditional students, the program offers classes primarily on weekday evenings. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in justice-related fields or for further doctoral studies.
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