Christopher Steenrod ?09

Christopher Steenrod

Class Year

’09

Current home

Kenosha, WI

Major(s)

Psychology

Current Position

Deputy District Attorney for Racine County

Christopher Steenrod ’09, who majored in psychology and minored in criminal justice at Carthage, is the deputy district attorney for Racine County. His daily tasks include assisting in the creation of office policies that will positively impact the community and the office, helping with educational and training opportunities for staff attorneys and their partners in law enforcement, supervising office staff, and prosecuting criminal cases in Racine County. 

“The best advice I can offer is to get involved. Join an academic organization that relates to your area of study. It is easy to go through the motions and graduate with a degree; however, your Carthage experience will be amplified the more you engage with other students and the school.”

Christopher Steenrod, ’09

What have you enjoyed most about your career?

“Achieving justice and positive outcomes for crime victims is the most rewarding part of my career. Many times, I have contact with people who have recently experienced a significant loss or have been wronged in some manner. I am not always able to make that person whole; however, being able to help the healing process by bringing the offender justice is extremely rewarding.”

How did Carthage prepare you?

“My time at Carthage, between attending classes and being a four-year member of the swim team, helped me learn to effectively manage my time. Time management is necessary when managing a caseload, meeting deadlines imposed by the court, and assisting with the supervision of the office. Additionally, every case has its own set of facts, and those facts do not always fit neatly within established statutes or case law. The liberal arts education Carthage provided has been instrumental when attacking complex legal issues that arise in cases. I am able to apply the facts of each particular case to various sources of case law and statutory authority to decipher the applicable law in each case and argue effectively before the court.”

Why did you choose Carthage?

“My entire immediate family attended Carthage. I had the opportunity to visit Carthage many times before attending myself in 2005. I enjoyed the small, intimate feeling that Carthage provided. I was also able to continue my swimming career at Carthage.”

What Carthage professors played a part in your success and how?

“Professor Robert Maleske had a profound impact on me and played a significant role in my success. He had a very unique style of teaching, which was put to the test during one particular J-Term semester. Prof. Maleske was teaching a class about interpersonal communication and dynamics. Shortly into the term, he underwent emergency surgery, and he charged the class with continuing the lessons in accordance with the syllabus and engaging in productive discussions while the class was in session. That experience helped foster a strong ability to work and communicate with others effectively in a professional setting. That experience was also crucial in developing integrity, honesty, and self-motivation that I bring to work with me every day.”

Were you an award recipient? If so, tell us about the awards you received and what they meant to you.

“I earned several Dean’s List honors during my time at Carthage.”

What role have the values in Carthage's mission, "Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service — Together" played in your life?

“My career is based on the values of Carthage’s mission. I am a public servant charged with finding the truth in criminal cases. At its very core, a jury trial is nothing more than an expedition to find the truth of an event that occurred. That is a heavy responsibility and one that I do not take lightly.”


Are you a Carthage graduate who is excelling in your field?

SUBMIT AN ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT FORM