Pittsburgh's New Police Chief is a Point Park Grad, Keynote Speaker at Hooding Ceremony Thursday, April 13, 2017
Meet Scott Schubert, Point Park University's 2017 Hooding Keynote Speaker
Job title: Police Chief
Employer: City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Degrees earned: M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration, 2010, and B.S. in Law Enforcement (Criminal Justice), 2007, both from Point Park University
Hometown: Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh
High school: Pittsburgh Brashear High School
Now living in: Brookline neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Hobbies/interests: Volunteer for Special Olympics, Advisory Committee Member for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, photography, member of Steel City Road Runners and Law Enforcement Torch Run Director for Special Olympics Pennsylvania
Twitter: @PghPoliceChief
LinkedIn: Scott Schubert
Instagram: @PghPoliceChief
Chief Schubert will be the keynote speaker at Point Park University's Graduate Degree Hooding Ceremony April 29 at PPG Paints Arena.
-- Wendell Hissrich, Public Safety Director, Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety
"I chose Point Park for both degrees because I loved the convenience of being Downtown, going to class on Saturdays and the structure of the programs. The University just had so much to offer and everyone at Point Park went out of their way to help me."
-- Chief Scott Schubert
Who inspired you to pursue a career in the criminal justice field?
My late father, Floyd Schubert, was a Pittsburgh police officer from 1965 to 1995. He had a huge influence on me. Since I was a little kid, seeing him in his uniform and how he treated people with dignity and respect, and the respect people had for him, made me very proud. He made a difference in the lives of others and I've always wanted to be like him.
Why did you choose to go back to school and earn both of your degrees at Point Park?
When I was promoted to commander in January 2007, Assistant Chief Maurita Bryant was my mentor and immediate boss at the time. She was also a student at Point Park. I graduated from high school in 1984 so going back to school was going to be a big step for me. However, in talking with Chief Bryant I learned that she really enjoyed her experience at Point Park and that it helped her professionally.
Another influencer was that I kept getting calls from people requesting for me to teach in a university setting, but you needed a bachelor's or master's degree depending on where you were teaching. I was very active in teaching crime scene investigations so I knew earning these degrees would give me the opportunity to teach at different places. I also thought about how I always like to lead by example and I wanted to be able to tell my kids, "If I did it, you can do it, too."
I chose Point Park for both degrees because I loved the convenience of being Downtown, going to class on Saturdays and the structure of the programs. The University just had so much to offer and everyone at Point Park went out of their way to help me. Also, to watch how the University was growing was pretty cool.
On top of going to class, 2009 was a very busy year for me. We had officers killed in the line of duty that year, the Steelers Super Bowl victory parade, the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh and the Penguins playoff games. I'm proud I was able to go through that whole year with everything going on and do well in the master's in criminal justice administration program.
Tell us about your path to police chief of the City of Pittsburgh.
Going through the ranks from patrolman, detective and sergeant to lieutenant, commander, assistant chief and then chief, gave me an opportunity to work in all the different aspects of policing and really helped prepare me for this position.
I was humbled and honored to be appointed chief. It's a dream come true for me. Growing up I didn't just want to be a police officer, but a Pittsburgh police officer.
How have Point Park's classes and faculty helped you succeed?
My classes at Point Park gave me more confidence in the field, helped with networking and made me a better writer. In particular, Professor Richard Linzer's Professional and Research Writing class provided me with a different way of looking at things and taught me to more effectively articulate in reports what I see. Overall, it made me better at conveying my thoughts in writing.
Also, the Advanced Research Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice class helped me considerably with analyzing problems and coming up with solutions. It directly applied to my positions with the police department.
What advice do you have for our students in the Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies?
Never give up. Whatever your goal is - whether it's local, county, state or federal - have that goal in mind and don't ever give up no matter how discouraging it may look sometimes. Keep pushing forward and be you. Dreams can come true.
What key message would you like to get across to students at Point Park's upcoming graduate hooding ceremony?
Be proud of your accomplishments and all you have gone through. On top of going to class, many of you had full-time jobs and family commitments. The fact that you were able to have all of that on your shoulders and succeed and graduate speaks volumes of who you are as a person. There may have been times you thought that this was too much, but you didn't give up. You stuck with it and now you are about to graduate. You should be very, very proud.
Do you have a favorite quote?
I have two favorite quotes.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie
Final thoughts?
I'm so grateful where I'm at in life. It's so important to always pay things forward. If you can help someone, it makes you a better person.
I'm proud to be a Point Park alum. I love all of Pittsburgh, but Downtown Pittsburgh holds a special place in my heart.
Photo by Daniel Kelly, freshman cinema production major