Skip to Main Content Open Alternative Formats of This Page
Dallas College

Giovanna Salazar

“I really fell into studying Criminal Justice. It wasn’t my first choice — I had originally picked marketing but with the recession had to revamp my career plans. My mom’s a legal secretary and my stepdad’s an attorney, so I thought, ‘Why not Criminal Justice?’ Then in the first year, I discovered I really liked it. 

“I like that my professors don’t just have academic knowledge but have a working background in all different fields. It brings more interest to our classes and we get to have a much better idea of what we’ll be up against in the future in our careers. 

“My career dream? I want to go into Border Patrol — there aren’t enough women in it now. There’s a lot of backlog in immigration processing, which interests me. I do need to learn more Spanish — even though I’m Hispanic, I’m not perfectly fluent because my mom emphasized English when I was growing up. I’m going to work on that, though. 

“There are so many career avenues in criminal justice — it’s not just about becoming a police officer. I’m very detail-oriented and I think I’ll be able to be successful on the job.” A

s of the end of May 2011, Giovanna Salazar will have earned an Associate in Arts degree with a field of study in Criminal Justice. She plans to transfer to Texas Woman’s University to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.


Read More

Maggie Brosowske

Maggie Brosowske, EMT-P, FF

Firefighter/Paramedic McKinney Fire Department
“The skills that I learned in the classroom, I use in the workplace all of the time. I’m the only female on my shift and one of only three female firefighter/paramedics in McKinney, but as long as I can pull my own weight, I’m fine.”
Fire Protection Technology
Rudy Salas

Rodolfo (Rudy) Salas

Hopeful future firefighter
“In my Fire Protection classes, I’ve learned a lot about how fire administration works — the chain of command — and it’s really exciting. I’m earning my associate degree because I think it will help me get my foot in the door and move toward my dream career as a firefighter.”
Fire Protection Technology
Roland Tay

Roland Tay, M.D.

Special Education Teacher, Naaman Forest High School, Garland Adjunct Faculty, Eastfield
“I was already working on a master’s degree in alternative dispute resolution at SMU when I learned about El Centro’s program, where I earned a certificate in Family Mediation. I was thrilled to find out about their program because it was convenient and affordable. The program was well-designed, and the quality of instruction was excellent.”
Conflict Management
Kathy Mack

Lt. Kathy Mack

Campus Police Officer, Cedar Valley
“Going back to school with work and a family isn’t easy, but it’s attainable. There were a few times when I wanted to give up, but then I’d get encouragement and keep going. You’re going to have obstacles but you have to fight for your goals.”
Criminal Justice
Giovanna Salazar
Giovanna Salazar
Dallas College student and hopeful future border patrol officer
Criminal Justice
School of Law and Public Service
Updated September 16, 2025