From Buckeye Sociology Student to DEA Leader and Professor: a converstation with alumnus and Sociology Alumni Advisory Board Chair, Dr. Calvin Higgins
Calvin Higgins - BA Sociology ’87
When Calvin Higgins first arrived at The Ohio State University, sociology wasn’t on his radar. Like many students, he began college pursuing a path that seemed practical: finance.
But a few difficult accounting courses and a realization about what he really wanted from a career changed everything. “I started to realize that sitting behind a desk crunching numbers wasn’t what I wanted to do,” Calvin recalls. “Growing up, I always imagined myself in law enforcement. I wanted a career where I was active and engaged with the world.”
While searching for a new academic direction, he discovered Ohio State’s criminal justice track within the sociology department. The program offered exactly what he was looking for: a way to combine academic training with a future in law enforcement. “That’s how I found sociology,” he says. “I started researching majors that would prepare me for a career in criminal justice, and sociology really stood out.”
Calvin switched majors in 1985 and graduated in 1987 with a sociology degree—a decision that would shape the next several decades of his life.
A Career in Federal Law Enforcement
After graduating, Calvin began a long and distinguished career in federal law enforcement with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Over the course of 27 years, he worked his way up through the ranks, eventually retiring as a supervisory special agent.
At the time of his retirement, he was leading the DEA office in Flint, Michigan, overseeing operations and investigations in the region. “In federal law enforcement, there’s a mandatory retirement age of 57,” he explains. “I was approaching that point when I was recruited by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to oversee their law enforcement and security operations in Detroit.” Calvin retired from the DEA slightly early to take the new position. He spent six years leading security operations for the Federal Reserve before retiring again.
But even while building a demanding professional career, he never stopped pursuing education.
Returning to the Classroom
During his law enforcement career, Calvin completed a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Tiffin University and later a Master’s and PhD in Political Science from Wayne State University.
His academic interests were deeply connected to his professional experience. “My research focused on the racial framing of drug policy,” Calvin explains. “Working in drug enforcement made me curious about how policies were created and why different drugs were treated differently under the law.”
His dissertation explored the contrasting policy responses to drug crises in the United States. “For example, during the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s, the dominant policy response was arrest and incarceration,” he says. “But during the opioid crisis decades later, the response shifted toward treatment and rehabilitation.” That contrast led him to examine how race, politics, and public narratives influence criminal justice policy.
While completing his doctorate, Calvin began teaching. He first lectured at the University of Michigan to fulfill teaching requirements for his PhD program. Soon afterward, Wayne State University invited him to teach a course that combined criminal justice and political science. Today, Calvin serves as an adjunct instructor at Wayne State University, where he teaches courses on the politics of the criminal justice system.
Bridging Theory and Practice
For Calvin, teaching offers a unique opportunity to combine his real-world experience with academic knowledge. “One of the things I noticed when I was an undergraduate was that many professors were teaching criminology theory without having practical criminal justice experience in the field,” he says. “Later in my career, I realized how valuable it can be when someone understands both the theory and the practice.”
That perspective shapes his approach in the classroom. “I try to bring the real-world side of criminal justice into my teaching,” he explains. “Students learn about theories and concepts, but they also learn how those ideas actually play out in practice.”
His courses draw students from across the university. While many are criminal justice majors, others enroll to better understand how politics shapes law and public policy. “There’s always a political dimension to criminal justice policy,” he says. “Understanding how laws are created and implemented helps students see the bigger picture.”
The Power of Critical Thinking
One of Calvin’s greatest joys as a teacher is watching students develop their analytical skills. “I love seeing students have that moment when something clicks,” he says. “When they start thinking critically about issues rather than just accepting what they hear.”
In his courses, students are encouraged to research issues, evaluate evidence, and develop their own informed perspectives. “I always tell my students: don’t study to memorize answers,” Calvin says. “Study to understand concepts. When you understand something deeply, you can apply it to new situations.” Those critical thinking skills, he believes, are essential not only in criminal justice but in any profession.
Advice for Future Criminal Justice Professionals
Students often ask Calvin what they should study if they hope to work in federal law enforcement. His answer may surprise them. “There’s no single course or major that guarantees a career in law enforcement,” he says. “What matters most are the skills you develop.”
He encourages students to focus on becoming strong researchers, writers, and communicators. “You need to be able to analyze information, think through complex problems, and explain your ideas clearly,” he says. “Those are the skills that make you successful.”
Interestingly, his advice comes from both professional and personal experience. Calvin’s daughter now works as an FBI agent, and he notes that agencies recruit individuals from a wide range of academic backgrounds. “They’re looking for people who can think critically and solve problems,” he explains.
Giving Back to Ohio State
Today, Calvin remains deeply connected to Ohio State through his service on the Sociology Alumni Advisory Board. For him, the decision to give back was an easy one. “My journey really began at Ohio State,” he says. “That’s where my career path started.”
He hopes that his involvement with the board will help support the next generation of students. “If I can help students prepare for their careers and encourage them to lead with purpose and excellence, that’s something I’m proud to do,” he says.
Always Be Ready
Outside the classroom, Calvin maintains the same discipline that defined his law enforcement career. “I have a personal motto: always be ready,” he says. He stays active through CrossFit, running, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, often starting his workouts before sunrise. “I still get up at 4:30 in the morning to make the 5:30 gym session,” he says with a laugh.
For Calvin, staying physically and mentally prepared reflects the same philosophy that guided his career. “Be curious, keep learning, and always strive to improve,” he says. “Those habits will take you farther than you ever imagined.”