Faculty Spotlight | Dr. Alexis R. Rockwell

From Infographics to Impact: A Student-Centered Approach

Striving to make education attainable for all, Dr. Alexis R. Rockwell, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice within the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, views college as just one of many valuable pathways and opportunities available to students today. She shares, “I love my job, and I am here because of my students. If I can make sure that at least one student's life outside of college and their futures are brighter from having crossed paths with me, then my career can be considered successful.” This belief drives her priority to ensure that the students know that she genuinely cares about their education and future, not just a seat in her class. Dr. Rockwell also recognizes the tireless efforts her students put into their degrees and finds herself constantly inspired by their determination here at South.

Dr. Rockwell’s teaching approach centers on a career-focused assignment known as the Final Infographic Project. Throughout the project, students are first given the autonomy to select a topic of their choosing. One that is relevant to the course but not necessarily covered in the curriculum. Then, they create a Canva Infographic on that topic using academic and external sources to support the information they find through research on the topic. 

By replacing the conventional term paper with this approach, students collect meaningful information and statistics they deem relevant to the topic, but may or may not have been covered in the class. They also share why the topic is important. The project is structured as an infographic to encourage students to think outside the box, but it doesn't allow them to include too much unnecessary information. The project is scaffolded across the entire semester, ensuring that students are continuously building upon their research rather than scrambling at the last minute. Through Dr. Rockwell’s classes and her innovative final infographic projects, students can learn how to summarize in a non-traditional way. These changes allow a little creativity into the mix, often resulting in some of the students’ strongest presentations, demonstrating lasting retention of ideas amongst her Criminal Justice Students. This mirrors the realities of the Criminal Justice field, where professionals must present factual, evidence-based information in a concise, clear, and accessible form to supervisors, legal teams, and courtroom audiences alike.

Dr. Rockwell's impact is perhaps best reflected in the voices of her students. In course evaluations, the infographic project consistently earns praise as “a creative way to further research in an area of interest.” Students note their appreciation for her teaching style, sharing comments at the end of course evaluations, such as: “Dr. Rockwell really cares about her students and wants us to succeed. She is very personable and always asked how we were doing—how our weekend was, etc. We enjoyed the review sessions and final infographic project.”

Dr. Rockwell has also received thank-you notes, such as the following: 
I am thankful for your hardwork and dedication to this class. You have been so generous and caring to your students and the respect you show in your classroom is inspirational. I have learned how to respectfully share my opinion, while also standing up for what I believe in, due to your actions in class. You teach your course so well and always keep it interesting. Your hard work as a professor does not go unrecognized and us students are thankful for all you do.

When it comes to funny (or inspirational) phrases that define her, Dr. Rockwell shared: Outside of the class and my job, my family and I have used the saying "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time," for anytime I struggled with my education, especially during grad school. I use that now to remind my students that college and graduating with a bachelor's degree is a marathon, not a sprint, and to keep going, one step/bite/class/test/event/whatever it may be at a time. This motivational quote has supported many students and will continue to support many more to come.

Random Fun Facts!

A creative at heart, Dr. Rockwell enjoys exploring new arts and crafts, creating music (she plays 6 instruments!), and engaging in artistic projects. As for music, she listens across all genres but has a particular fondness for metal and rock. Her current favorite artist is Sleep Token, but she is also a devoted Swiftie, thoroughly enjoying her most recent album.

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