Originally published on April 01, 2019.
Derrik Marshall was a small town kid with big aspirations. After growing up in Minersville, Utah and graduating from Beaver High School, Derrik chose to attend Southern Utah University after his two-year mission for the Church of Latter-Day Saints. He chose SUU upon the recommendation of his siblings and wife, and to enjoy the small town feel that Cedar City offered.
As a freshman, Derrik didn’t know what career path he wanted to pursue. While exploring his options, he began taking criminal justice classes and found what he was looking for. Derrik credits professors John Williams and Carl Franklin for helping him realize that he had a passion for the field.
“These two men helped me gain an understanding of criminal justice,” said Derrik. “They taught me how to understand the subject matter and about the diversity of the field. I feel it is important for those studying in the criminal justice field to know there is more to this than just being a police officer or an attorney. I am working in my choice of career as a Federal Probation Officer and able to claim that SUU was the school that helped propel me to where I am today.”
With the encouragement of involved professors and hands-on experiences, Derrik completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice and went on to earn a Master’s of Public Administration from SUU.
After getting married and graduating from SUU in 2011, Derrik has since reached his goal of working for the federal government. As a Federal Probation Officer for the U.S. District Court of Utah, Derrik conducts investigations and prepares reports for defendants charged with federal offenses. He primarily works in the presentence unit, which provides the court with recommendations for appropriate sentencing for those who are awaiting trial.
“I love being able to use my education in my job,” said Derrik. "I have the background and knowledge about federal laws. I love the people I work with. I love having the challenges I do and how they change every day."
Learn more about the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at SUU.
