Richele Callender ’04CPS is the Executive Team Leader of Assets
Protection for Target Corporation in New York City and feels that
her education at St. John’s prepared her for her entry into the
criminal justice field, “Thanks to my experiences at St. John’s, I
was able to begin my career shortly after I obtained both my
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and
Master of Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Leadership
at St. John’s University.”
In 2004, Richele was the winner of the University Certificate of
Excellence Award and had the honor of serving as Diploma
Representative for the College of Professional Studies in May of
that year: “I was a member of Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal
Justice Honor Society, Caribbean Students Association and the Big
Brother/Big Sister’s Mentor Program. I was also one of the
first students to graduate with a 4.0 from the Criminal Justice
Leadership Program.”
Enrolling in this program afforded her the opportunity to
acquire leadership skills from one of the most highly regarded
graduate criminal justice programs in the country, “I found my
experiences in the program to be both challenging as well as
rewarding.” Upon completion of her master’s in May of 2004,
Richele attended a career fair sponsored by the University’s Career Center,
and it was at that fair that she was introduced to Target and the
assets protection industry.
After being recruited by the Target College Campus Recruiting
Team, she started with the company in June of 2005: “I chose a
career at Target Corporation because I was intrigued by the idea of
working for such a well-recognized and respected
organization. I also believed that my experiences there would
provide me with the opportunity to showcase my leadership
skills. Slowly but surely, I was able to turn my classroom
experience into real-life experience.”
As an Executive of Assets Protection, Richele has been presented
with the opportunity to not only oversee a large team of store
detectives and door guards, but also mentor, as well as teach and
coach future Team Members and Executives. She credits much of her
success to the preparation she received at St. John’s, “St. John’s
University has played an important role in my growth as not only an
individual, but as well as a leader!”