Criminology Student Spotlight

Meet Zade!

“I work with both the House Intern Resource Office (HIRO) and the Office of Talent and Development (OTD) which are sub-offices of the CAO. I work to help new interns get hired into open positions, help train employees to succeed in both current and future roles, and act as a recruiter for the entirety of the U.S. House of Representatives.

I enjoy working as part of a team to help shape America’s future. While my office is non-political, we play an integral role in providing support to every member and employee of the House of Representatives, and I love being able to use my work to give back to my country.

After graduation I will be attending the Texas A&M School of Law, and I hope to carve out a legal career using my skills and knowledge to give back to my community.”

Meet Braydan!

“At the DCPD, I was able to get hands-on experience talking to defendants about their case and reviewing their evidence with them. Further, I got to observe trials and other hearings, so that I could learn real-world techniques in real time; All while working with real attorneys that I grew to respect and admire.

I enjoyed learning about how personal the law can be. Learning exactly how to be personable with other attorneys and defendants alike has proven to be a greatly valuable skill that I truly treasure.

After graduation, I plan on going to law school so that I may practice criminal law, either as a prosecutor or a public defender. ”

Sarah is back again with another internship!

“As an intern at the DFPS Human Trafficking Division, I assist my supervisor in creating and initiating projects that raise awareness about the topic. As part of the job, I draft and organize project proposals, as well as communicate with other agencies.

This experience is very valuable for me, as it gave me the opportunity to have a better understanding about the importance of the dynamics between groups, whether it be between divisions or agencies. I would recommend this internship to anyone that wants to get a feel of what it is like to work at a government agency while being actively involved in actual projects and initiatives.

Upon graduation, I plan to pursue a career in law enforcement within a federal agency, such as Homeland Security Investigations. I am especially interested in working at their Human Trafficking division.“

Meet Nicole Kim!

“During my internship, I completed a series of trainings to familiarize myself with database and scheduling systems and ensure proper communication with clients. My tasks focused on reviewing and organizing documents critical to immigration processes and conducting attorney consultations with clients. Also, I assisted with a citizenship workshop, during which I interacted directly with applicants and went through their application processes together.

I found great enjoyment in concentrating on a particular field of law, especially immigration law. I discovered that many view the attorney’s role as essential, which inspired me to pursue a similar path in the future.“

Upon graduation, Nicole plans to continue her education by going to law school and figuring out which area of law to focus on to become a successful and helpful attorney.

Meet Madison!

“During the duration of my internship, I completed a plethora of tasks while learning pivotal knowledge of the Texas Criminal Justice System. My main duties were to sift through and review discoveries, complete legal research, and converge with prosecutors about strategies and ideas. Additionally, I watched several trials and pre-trial procedures over a multitude of charges and crimes.”

“Honestly, I enjoyed every aspect of interning at the district attorney’s office. I learned so much from this short, 6-week internship. Most importantly, It confirmed that I 100% want to become a Criminal Justice attorney.”

Upon graduation, Madison plans on continuing her education by going to law school, and eventually becoming a young, successful criminal attorney.

Meet Matthew!

“As an intern for PhotoFax, I conducted surveillance of individuals suspected of fraud in civil cases of insurance and fraud in motor vehicle incidents. I use a company vehicle to stakeout and follow these individuals throughout their day to film any action against restrictions. Actions of an agent include stakeouts, tailing, covert film, undercover investigation, questioning, and many other tasks in order to verify the health and wellness of the subject.”

“My favorite aspect of the internship is after an agent has satisfied all requirements of training, they are released to conduct their own investigation. This freedom has abled me to work over 25 cases myself which allowed me to practice and perfect all the skills required of a private investigator.”

After graduation, Matthew intends on spending a semester as a private investigator before attending law school in the Fall 2025. I hope to become a corporate attorney at a major law firm.

Meet Logan Kain!

“I did an internship with Denton County Adult Probation where I shadowed probation officers and helped them with tasks such as filing warrants, motions of adjudication to the court, doing field visits, and helping with each unit in the department.

The one thing that I will remember is the connections I made and the field visits. Everyone was extremely open and willing to show me how a probation department operates.

After graduation I plan on pursuing a career in law enforcement or as a probation officer while I pursue a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity with the hopes of moving into federal law enforcement or US probation.”

Meet Imran Shaik Abdul!

“As an intern with the CID Unit in the Carrollton Police Department, I shadowed and assisted detectives in conducting search/arrest warrant investigations and analyzed numerous Child Protective Services reports. I observed interrogative tactics and written victim/suspect interviews from the Child Crimes and the Homicide Units. I also evaluated 17 DFW surrounding cities’ online incident reporting questionnaires and compiled a report for the CID Commander.”

“On the last day of my extended internship, the CID Commander surprised me by awarding a Commander Coin. I am humbled and honored to receive it, as it is typically awarded to exemplary law enforcement personnel for their service.”

Upon graduation this summer, Imran will join the Carrollton Police Department to become a law enforcement officer.

Meet Jordyn!

Jordyn, who has her sights set on law school and a future in the legal field, served as a legislative aide in the office of Rep. Salman Bhojani BS’03. She managed the representative’s schedule, conducted in-depth research on proposed bills and provided key support to the legislative director.

Dillard said the highlight of the experience was the opportunity to network. From meeting with constituents and professionals to engaging with industry stakeholders about proposed legislation, she gained valuable insight into the world of policymaking and advocacy. She credits the internship with strengthening her public speaking, communication, organization and time management abilities.

After graduation Jordyn plans on attending law school and hopes to be practicing law to help others.

Meet Alexa!

“During my internship, I was able to observe the day-to-day operations of law enforcement and different training scenarios. I was also given the opportunity to shadow a variety of officers, including those working in patrol, dispatch, crime analysis, the criminal investigative division, and crime scene investigations. Every day was different, which made it very exciting and engaging.

I had an incredibly rewarding internship, and everyone was so welcoming. I will especially remember the advice the officers gave me, and I plan to use it in my future career in the criminology field.

After graduation, I intend to pursue a master’s degree in criminology, with the goal of eventually working in law enforcement or within a federal agency.”

Meet Elizabeth!

“I spent most of my time at Unlocking Doors speaking with new clients to discover their work needs and find resources to help them find a job.

I learned a lot about how life after incarceration can be very difficult for people to navigate alone. This experience also showed me that so many of them need a helping hand to keep themself afloat and out of prison

After graduation I plan on applying for a career in the field of Forensic Science and hopefully find a job as an evidence technician.”

Meet Fawn

“As a PI intern, I had the chance to learn the details of what goes into investigative work, both on the research side as well as the field work side. With this work, after the training, I have mostly performed surveillance on subjects to find specific things out in their day-to-day lives, at the clients’ requests, filling out reports afterwards. I also have attended some networking events for this line of work and met many unique people in the field.”

“I feel quite accomplished because I legally became a licensed Private Investigator as a result of this internship. I will always remember the thrill that comes with following people and the satisfaction that comes with getting the last piece needed to close cases.”

Upon graduation, Fawn plans on going into investigations and plans to hopefully become a professional criminal detective.

Meet Pratyush!

“At the internship, I shadowed various units like the CSI (Criminal service investigation), and CID (criminal investigation department), went on ride-along with different police officers during the day and night, and experienced the 911 dispatch.”

“I enjoyed meeting with many different police officers and learning about their work. I got some good advice on how to maximize my potential to become an officer. One thing to take away from this is the experience was getting to interact with great individuals and the connections that I made. I was their first intern, and everyone made me feel welcome and doing this confirmed that I want to get a career in law enforcement.”

After graduation, I plan on attending the Frisco police academy and then eventually becoming a Frisco police officer.

Meet Camila Estrada!

“The Archer Fellowship has been an incredible experience that has immersed me into the world of federal policy making while interning, living, and learning alongside some of the most brilliant students of the UT System.”

“As an intern with Legal Aid DC, I assist attorneys with their hearings and trials, conduct intake interviews with potential clients, and review legal documents for all five legal departments. Because of my interest in criminal justice reform, I have also worked closely with Legal Aid’s Reentry Justice Project, where I assist attorneys in criminal record sealing proceedings.” 

Upon graduation, Camila will be completing a Masters in Criminology at UTD and then headed to law school!

Meet Sarah Choi!

As an intern with the Garland Police Department, Sarah had a unique opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of a police department. The experience provided her with a comprehensive understanding of patrol operations, criminal investigations, and various administrative duties.

“At Garland PD, I follow a rotational schedule in which I go to different divisions every week and observe the role of the officers under different settings. It is a great opportunity to get a first-hand experience in the field and to have a better understanding of the law enforcement field.”

Upon graduation, Sarah plans on pursuing a career in law enforcement within a federal agency. She hopes to one day work with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).”

Meet William!

“During my internship, I participated in the Department’s Comprehensive Exposure program, where I shadowed and observed 12 different units within the agency. I was provided with the opportunity to train with the recruits, ride out with officers responding to calls, and observe how officers bonded with the community. Of the 12 units, my favorite was the Community NPO, SRO, and the Mental Health and Homeless Liaison Unit.

Truthfully, I enjoyed every minute of my internship, but I will never forget how friendly the employees and officers were when I spoke with them. Every officer took the time to answer my questions and provided me with valuable experience that I will use in my law enforcement career.

After graduation, I plan to spend time with my family while preparing for the upcoming Garland Police Academy. I aspire to become an officer with the Garland Police Department because I believe the department upholds the values and standards that create benevolent and passionate officers. I plan to work hard to restore the image of law enforcement by supporting the local community, while also representing and advocating for the Vietnamese population in Garland. After some time, I plan to transition into Federal law enforcement, with the ultimate dream of working with F.B.I. as a Special Agent.”