Education
BA in Criminology, 2010

What do you do in your current occupation:
I investigate cases involving both Juvenile and Adult sexual assaults and have been with the Sex Crimes Unit for 1.5 years. Prior to being assigned to the Sex Crimes Unit, I was an Investigator assigned to the Mobile Assist Team (MAT). MAT is a, plain clothes, night street crime unit and I was with that unit for 3.5 year. I started my career with CRPD as a patrol officer in 2010.

How did UNI's Criminology program benefit you? In what ways did it help you prepare for or work in your current career path?
I was very pleased with my time at UNI in the Criminology program. I felt the Professors were knowledgeable and passionate about their courses and students. The different options of classes helped to broaden my education and I think makes me a better police officer.

What 1) academic advice and 2) future career advice would you give to potential freshmen coming to UNI and to our current students?
I would recommend taking a variety of different courses to help broaden your understanding of different topics.  Through my time as an Officer and Investigator I have relied on a variety of different skills that don’t necessarily relate to Criminology. As an example, I am trained as a Clandestine Laboratory (Meth Lab) Investigator and in that position, knowledge of chemistry and how different chemicals react is very important. Knowledge of business and finance are also important skills as financial crimes are on the rise and education in those fields would prove helpful to an Investigator working those types of cases. With that being said, a minor in a different course of study would only complement a Criminology major.