Georgia Barnhart’s path to higher education did not begin at a high school graduation stage. It started years later, in a quiet moment after her children had grown, the house had calmed, and her desire to make a difference in the world could no longer be quieted.
“I decided to study to become a victim advocate,” Barnhart said. “I realized I wasn’t done. There was more I needed to do, for myself, for others.”
Barnhart, who now resides in Dover, Ohio, was born in Naples, Florida, moved to Canton, Ohio, as a child, and graduated from Perry High School. She's pursuing both a Bachelor’s in Criminology and Justice Studies (Class of 2026) and a Master’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice (Class of 2027) at СƬƵ. But unlike many of her classmates, she brings with her the experiences of being a wife, mother, and homemaker, as well as, a growing legacy of advocacy that is deeply personal.
Her determination didn't go unnoticed. Mary Wilson, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, helped with her application to the joint Bachelor's/Master's program.
"Her enthusiasm to study the policy issues that hinder investigations into honor killings, victimization of Indigenous Women, and violence against women in general, spilled over in her work," Wilson said. "I read her discussion posts with great interest and appreciated her contributions to our community of learners."
Wilson was so impressed, she encouraged Barnhart to enter СƬƵ's Student Showcase for Research, Scholarship & Creativity, held this spring.
"I found her research paper engaging, timely, and eye-opening. She is drawing attention to a historical and ongoing issue of violence among Native American women and girls," Wilson said. " I felt it would be a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of her topic to a wider audience."
A Personal Mission
Her academic passion is rooted in family history and an unresolved mystery.
“My Great Aunt Nellie disappeared in the 1930s,” she explained. “She was living in Canton with a man we thought was her husband. When family tried to visit, they were told she had left him and gone to Chicago. But no one ever heard from her again.”
For years, Barnhart’s mother and grandmother searched for answers. Now, she continues the search.
“The quest to locate what happened to Aunt Nellie has inspired my studies, my advocacy, and my career path,” she said.
When presented with an assignment to research a demographic of women affected by crime, Barnhart knew exactly where to turn: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). It's a crisis that has haunted communities across the United States and Canada, marked by disproportionate rates of violence, limited media coverage, and a justice system that often looks the other way.
“My Great Aunt was Indigenous, so her story echoes many of the tragic stories,” Barnhart said. “Disappearance. Silence. No records. No answers. I want to make sure that these women aren’t forgotten.”
Choosing a Regional Campus
Barnhart’s journey through academia began not with a prestigious acceptance letter, but with a practical decision.
“I initially completed my Victim Advocate training through a Department of Defense program online,” she said. “But I quickly realized employers required a degree.”
The solution presented itself in СƬƵ's Regional Campuses. The close proximity and online options, paired with affordable tuition, made it the perfect fit for a non-traditional student.
“Regional campuses like Trumbull are vital,” Barnhart said. “They allow people like me, people with families, responsibilities, and roots, to continue their education without sacrificing everything else.”
Support from her husband, Jared Barnhart, played a critical role in her return to school.
“When I told him I wanted to go back, he didn’t hesitate. He just said, ‘Go for it.’ That support has meant everything.”
Eyes on the Future
This summer, Barnhart is interning with the Adult Parole Authority. She hopes to follow that experience with another internship at the Tuscarawas County Probation Department. Her long-term goal is to work in victim services or community-based justice reform.
But her vision extends beyond employment. She wants to return to the classroom as a professor.
“I’d love to develop and teach a course on MMIW and the criminal justice system’s relationship with Native American communities,” she says. “These are critical issues, and they’re too often overlooked in curriculum.”
A Voice for the Missing
In everything she does, Georgia Barnhart carries the stories of those victims who have been silenced. From Aunt Nellie’s disappearance nearly a century ago, to the thousands of Indigenous women and girls still missing today, Barnhart’s work is a bridge between memory and justice.
“I want to help families find the answers they deserve,” she said. “Even if those answers are hard. Even if they’re decades late. Everyone deserves to be found.”
As she balances classes, internships, and advocacy, Barnhart proves that it’s never too late to pursue your purpose and that some callings wait until just the right moment to speak loudest.