When Shelby Hatcher-Gosnell finished her doctorate in public safety at Middle Georgia State University this past December, she did more than earn a new credential. She also helped make a little history.

Hatcher-Gosnell was among the students in the first graduating cohort of Middle Georgia State’s (MGA’s) Doctor of Science in Public Safety, a practice-focused program designed to prepare leaders for advanced roles across the field.

“The networking has been huge,” said Hatcher-Gosnell, director of Clery Act Compliance at Emory University. “Everyone in this cohort is a working professional, and that collaboration has been a real benefit to all of us. This is about all of us taking research and applying it to day-to-day practice so we can continue to improve the field.”

Approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in 2023, the new doctorate welcomed its inaugural cohort about six months later. MGA developed the program, which is geared toward professionals who are already serving in critical public safety roles, to meet a growing need for research-informed leadership in law enforcement, corrections, fire safety, emergency management, and related fields.

The Doctor of Science in Public Safety emphasizes applied problem-solving. Students complete coursework online, participate in a short in-person residency, and conduct field-based research addressing real-world challenges faced by public safety organizations. The cohort-based structure encourages collaboration and relationship-building among professionals from different agencies and disciplines.

Like Hatcher-Gosnell, other members of the first graduating class brought extensive leadership experience to the program.

Christopher Hughes, chief of police at Valdosta State University, said the doctorate challenged students to think beyond day-to-day operations and focus on long-term improvement in the field.

“I think we can provide a lot of insight into what it takes to make public safety better moving forward, Hughes said.

For Susan Mathias, a social services specialist case manager for Child Protective Services, earning her doctorate at MGA carried special meaning. An undergraduate alum of MGA, she had helped revise the Student Government Association constitution when the institution became a university.

“Coming back felt like becoming another piece of history here,” Mathias said.

She encourages other experienced professionals to consider the program. “It’s phenomenal. The expertise you gain from the faculty makes you a better, more seasoned professional.”

First graduates of the program also included J. Tripp Mitchell, MGA’s chief of police.

“The best part of the program is it provides a work life balance and is manageable for working adults,” Mitchell said. “This degree will also allow me to grow within our University community as we continue to work to keep our campuses safe and up to date with best practices and the knowledge I have obtained.”

Learn more about the Doctor of Science in Public Safety at mga.edu/graduate-school