Schroer, an associate professor of legal studies, joined the C-SC faculty in August 2014. She teaches courses on introduction to law, criminal law, mock trial, civil litigation and procedure, legal research, analysis and writing, and alternative dispute resolution. She is the chair of the criminal justice and legal studies department. She was awarded the Walter S. Reuling Faculty Prize for Innovation in Student Learning in 2017.

Schroer was an acquisition editor with Thomson Reuters-West Legal Publishing in Eagan, Minn. She previously taught in St. Louis at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, Hickey School, Watterson College and Maryville University, where she also was the director of planned giving. She has previous legal experience as a hearing examiner with the Missouri Public Service Commission in Jefferson City, Mo., an assistant prosecuting attorney in St. Charles County, Mo., and an attorney with the firm of Coburn, Croft and Putzell in St. Louis. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association Committee on Paralegals.

Schroer earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and sociology in 1984 from Maryville College, and she earned her Juris Doctor in 1987 from the Washington University School of Law.

Grissom, a senior psychology and criminal justice major from Frankford, Ind., will serve as SGA president for the 2020-21 academic year. She has been named to the president鈥檚 list, the dean鈥檚 list or the honor roll on four occasions during her time at C-SC. She is a member of the women鈥檚 basketball team and the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.

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A mock mediation will be performed by students in an Alternative Dispute Resolution course taught by Melody Schroer, associate professor of legal studies and department chair of criminal justice and legal studies. Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution during which a neutral third party facilitates a negotiation between disputing parties. The goal of mediation is to find common ground and reach a mutually agreeable resolution to the parties鈥� problems or concerns.

Restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behavior. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that includes all stakeholders.

This event will simulate a 鈥渃ommunity restorative circle鈥� scenario involving a first-time juvenile delinquency issue. A teenager was caught shoplifting a low monetary value item and admits his guilt. Both the offender and store owner have chosen to try a restorative justice circle to come up with a way of resolving the matter, putting the juvenile court process on hold. The circle consists of the victim, the juvenile offender, his parent(s), the police officer, community members and the mediators/facilitators.

The demonstration is offered as an alternative response to crime while introducing new theories in the area of corrections.

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