My journey to this point has been an interesting one. It is important that you understand this journey to understand where I am heading in the future.

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I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a Computer Information Systems minor in 1999 from Saint Leo College (now Saint Leo University) in Florida. I became a 5th grade classroom teacher with Pasco County Public Schools in Florida. I quickly realized that although I enjoyed the art of teaching, I did not enjoy many of the additional challenges that classroom teachers face.

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I was encouraged to go into law enforcement and was quickly hired by the Tampa Police Department. I loved this line of work and was assigned to the Quick Uniformed Attack on Drugs (QUAD) squad which focused on street to mid-level narcotics. I also worked with the Street Anti-Crime (SAC) squad which focused on prostitution and pattern crimes. I left this position in 2007 when my husband was hired by a federal law enforcement agency and we were relocated to New Jersey.

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After we relocated, we had fraternal twin girls and I became a stay-at-home mother. We were again relocated in 2013 to Virginia. When the girls entered 1st grade, I began thinking about what to do professionally. Due to my husbands' travel schedule, I could not work in a position that required shift work. I was recruited by Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia to work as the division Human Trafficking Prevention Specialist which blended my education and law enforcement backgrounds. Knowing that this position was grant funded, I continued to think about what I would enjoy doing long-term. I kept coming back to my original interests of blending education with technology; however, I wanted to do it in a way that did not bring me back to the public school classroom. That is when I found the Instructional Design and Technology program at George Mason University. I truly enjoyed my journey at George Mason University!

 

After graduation, I began looking for positions as either and ISD or a UX Designer. At the same time, the Virginia Legislature was passing Virginia Code § 9.1-116.5, which established a Sex Trafficking Response Coordinator position within the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). I was made aware of the position and was recruited to apply. Being attracted to the potential of being able to make systemic change in the way that human trafficking cases were handled in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I applied and was hired in 2019.

 

Although I have valued my position at DCJS and have accomplishments that I am proud of, I am still drawn to the adventures within the world of Instructional Design & User Experience Design. I am currently looking for opportunities to move into this field.

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My personal interests include backpacking, traveling, and being with my family.