Paul SuellentropLouisa Brunt is a problem-solver. At 黑洞社区, she works through windy days, sand traps and the rough as a member of the women鈥檚 golf team.
In a few years, she wants to solve problems of a criminal nature.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a homicide detective,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been so fascinated with stuff like that.鈥�
Brunt, from Manchester, England, transferred to Wichita State from Texas Tech University to play on the 黑洞社区 golf team and earn her master鈥檚 degree in criminal justice. She graduated from Texas Tech, where she earned Academic All-Big 12 honors three times, with a major in criminology and a minor in forensic science.
鈥淲hen we鈥檙e all doing stuff together as a team, she thinks in the problem-solving mindset,鈥� teammate Kenni Henson said. 鈥溾�橧f we do this, then this can happen.鈥� Even being new to the team this year, she fills the role of a leader.鈥�
Brunt expects her career path to take her into police work or the FBI.
鈥淪he is all about crime-scene investigation,鈥� golf coach Tom McCurdy said. 鈥淪he is wired for that. She could walk into any situation, and she would be the person you would rely on under pressure. Always smiling. Never rattled.鈥�
Brunt鈥檚 favorite class is Homicide Investigation on Monday nights. She wanted an academic pursuit that kept her attention. Criminal justice&苍产蝉辫;鈥� with its mix of science, technology, people skills and instincts&苍产蝉辫;鈥� keeps her eager to learn. In a recent class, students discussed using dental science and bite marks in the 1970s, tools that played an important role in the conviction of serial killer Ted Bundy.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e a detective, you want to solve it to help people,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e helping them find a conclusion.鈥�
Her class work and textbooks produce interesting conversations on the team. Brunt is intrigued by the crime, the science, the interrogations and the mayhem, while many of her teammates are alternately curious and horrified.
鈥淪he came on her (recruiting) visit and I recognized that we were very similar people,鈥� Henson said. 鈥淭hen I asked her about her major and what she wanted to get into, and she said, 鈥極h, homicide detective.鈥� I鈥檓 going into elementary education, so we鈥檙e totally different in that aspect. I would rather work with little minds.鈥�
鈥淪he wants to teach young kids and I want to find out how people are killed, but we get on so well,鈥� Brunt said.
Brunt grew up reading mysteries and watching crime thrillers on TV. Her favorite is 鈥淰era,鈥� a British series that started in 2011 and features the work of fictional Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope.
鈥淚 just love problem-solving and having to think about situations,鈥� she said. 鈥淪olving something 鈥� that is quite the challenge. There are so many aspects to clues and evidence and suspects and time frames. Just like there is with golf 鈥� so many factors can affect you.鈥�
Her problem-solving on the golf course is working in her debut with the Shockers. She recorded two top-10 finishes and one in the top 20 in three fall tournaments.
