Criminal Justice Students Chosen for Prestigious Federal Positions

By Kathryn Podolsky and Karen Guin

Jillian Share has been selected to work as a clerk in the United States Secret Service “Stay-In-School” program. The criminal justice junior started the position in April and is working in the Orlando field office. She will also attend a seminar in Washington, D.C., to prepare her for future responsibilities.

“This clerk position is one of the most prestigious positions for a college student to earn with the Secret Service,” said Ross Wolf, assistant professor of criminal justice.

The “Stay-In-School” program will allow Share to continue her education while earning money and increasing her opportunities within the criminal justice field.

“I believe this job will open many doors for me,” Share said, “and there is no telling what other offers or experiences I may have in the future.”

Michelle McDonald, a criminal justice graduate student at the UCF Daytona Beach campus, is one of only six students chosen nationally to participate in a 12-week summer internship at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Ga.

McDonald said the internship experience will be similar to that of a student training to become a federal agent. She will spend about half of her time auditing classes and the other half working on research programs for the center. “I have a strong interest in criminal investigations, so I’ve been assigned to a mentor in the Investigative Skills Branch where I will learn fingerprinting, forensics [and] surveillance techniques,” she added.

Criminal justice Instructor Bob Ford has been coordinating the internship for McDonald. “I have worked with several of the people at FLETC and I know it will be a great experience for Michelle,” he said.