Mike Mendenhall is an associate professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Ferris State University. He began his career in law enforcement in 2008 as a police officer with the City of Madison, Wisconsin. In that role, he came to understand the complexity of substance-related challenges and the importance of a coordinated community response. In 2021, Mike earned his PhD in public administration from Western Michigan University. As a board member of FAN in Mecosta County, he values the opportunity to connect classroom learning with practical insights from the field, helping future criminal justice professionals approach their work with a broader understanding.