Bayley Plummer ’19, a recent graduate of Appalachian’s B.S. in criminal justice program who is continuing her Appalachian education by pursuing an MPA. She will continue to work part-time security shifts as an Appalachian police cadet while she earns her graduate degree and plays one more season as a center/forward for the Mountaineers women’s basketball team. Photo by Chase Reynolds
BOONE, N.C. — Bayley Plummer ’19, a recent graduate of Appalachian State University’s B.S. in criminal justice program from Thomasville, may have found her path to Appalachian through an athletic scholarship, but her love of the school and the Appalachian Community — which “feels like home,” she said — has led to her many successes both on and off the basketball court.
This summer, Plummer, who completed her bachelor’s degree early, began her studies in Appalachian’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, which she aims to complete in the spring of 2021. She will also complete an internship this summer with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Plummer’s decision to major in criminal justice was inspired by her grandfather. “My grandpa was in law enforcement, and this area of study always sparked my interest,” she said. “I also am very fond of the idea of serving and helpings others, which is directly related to the field of law enforcement.”
Her interests in public service led her to apply for the Appalachian Police Officer Development Program (APDP). Since being accepted into the program, the center/forward for the Mountaineers women’s basketball team has kept a fast-paced schedule, juggling her part-time security work as a police cadet, her academic commitments and her athletic pursuits.
“We’re pleased to have Bayley as a member of our Public Safety Team,” said Andy Stephenson, Appalachian’s director of public safety and chief of police. “She is extremely successful, both academically and athletically, and her tremendous work ethic is contagious. Should she choose policing as her career, I have no doubt that she will have a significant, positive impact in the community.”
“The APDP program allows me to get one step ahead … I hope to become a state trooper for the North Carolina Highway Patrol and one day work for federal law enforcement,” Plummer said. “The program has also permitted me to build connections and relationships with members of the Appalachian Community.
Bayley Plummer ’19 has achieved academic and athletic success while at Appalachian — ranking sixth in the nation and first in the Sun Belt Conference in rebounds per game for the 2018–19 basketball season, while keeping a 3.9 GPA. Photo courtesy of Appalachian State University Athletics
“I was introduced to (C.) Philip Byers, who currently sits on the (University of North Carolina) Board of Governors and who also served as a former sheriff. He has provided useful knowledge and connections in the field of law enforcement and I am grateful for our relationship,” she added.
Angel Elderkin, head coach of the Appalachian women’s basketball team, said Plummer’s academic and athletic achievements stand out in addition to her desire to be of service to others.
“She played an integral role in the WBI (Women’s Basketball Invitational) championship. On the court, she anchors our defense with her elite ability to rebound the basketball, all while maintaining a 3.9 cumulative GPA,” Elderkin said. “Most important, Bayley has impacted the community with her work as an APDP cadet.”
When she graduates with her MPA, Plummer is likely to become the first APDP cadet to earn a master’s degree. She will also remain committed to a demanding schedule as a successful student-athlete while completing her first year of graduate studies — 2019–20 will be her last season with the Mountaineers, she said.
When asked what comes next after she completes her graduate degree, Plummer said she hopes to work for federal law enforcement, possibly with the FBI or Secret Service.
“As a sworn officer, I will be in close contact with more citizens and members of society, so I am excited for the new relationships that will be built,” she said. “I hope I can use my profession to build relationships that will last a lifetime.”
Next summer, Plummer plans to complete the Appalachian Police Academy and earn her North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) credentials to become a sworn police officer.
What do you think?
Share your feedback on this story.
About the Department of Government and Justice Studies
Appalachian State University’s Department of Government and Justice Studies offers undergraduate programs in political science and criminal justice, and graduate programs in political science and public administration. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the department has over 600 undergraduate majors and more than 70 graduate students. Learn more at https://gjs.appstate.edu.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is home to 16 academic departments, one stand-alone academic program, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. There are approximately 6,100 student majors in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing Appalachian's general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.
About the Appalachian Police Department
Appalachian State University’s official policing agency — the Appalachian Police Department — supports the university’s academic mission by working in partnership with the campus community to prevent crime, solve problems and improve the quality of life on campus. The department’s philosophy is one of proactive community engagement, collaboration and customer service, holding the safety and health of App State’s community members as its top priorities. State-certified police officers, security officers and civilian employees comprise the department, and this team of professionals helps to create and maintain an inclusive sense of belonging for all members of the Appalachian Community — students, faculty, staff and visitors. Additionally, through its efforts, the department aims to be a leader in innovative public safety ideas and strategies. Learn more at https://police.appstate.edu.
About Mountaineer Athletics
More than 400 student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University. App State’s nationally ranked football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision), with six bowl wins in its first six years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. The Mountaineers were a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before moving up to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey (MAC) and wrestling (SoCon). Learn more at https://appstatesports.com.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
