Colin Gano Image a9f49Majors and Minor: Double Major in Criminal Justice and Human Resource Management

Year: 2019

How did you decide on your major?

I decided to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice as I have always been passionate about public service and wanted to better prepare myself for a career in law enforcement. Combining this with a degree in Human Resource Management has given me the opportunity to see all situations, whether in work or in life, from a well-rounded, diverse perspective.

What is it about your chosen field (and the department) that appeals to you?

What I enjoy the most about the Criminal Justice department, as well as the field itself, is that it caters to a wide array of interests. I have made many friends here pursuing careers such as attorneys, law enforcement officers, social services professionals and more. The major is very dynamic in the sense that it allows for students to advance their specific career goals while also exposing them to other related areas; something that I think is critical to professional development.

Do you have a favorite class/professor within your major?

Professor Trigg’s Police class has been my favorite so far. Being a Lieutenant for the New Brunswick Police Department, his class is full of practical, real-world knowledge that I always found to be very refreshing. Not to mention, of course, that he will occasionally bring the K-9 unit to visit his lectures!

What are your favorite academic experiences outside of your major?

My favorite academic experiences outside of my majors has been in satisfying the core curriculum requirements. While it may not sound all that great, I treat it as an opportunity to experience as many different fields of study as I can. Some of my personal favorites have been Creative Writing, Introduction to Logic, and Dinosaurs. As challenging as they were, I thoroughly enjoyed taking them and exploring topics I never would have learned about in Criminal Justice or Human Resources.

What are your other Rutgers activities?

Apart from academics, I try to stay involved on campus as much as I can. A huge part of that for me has been in getting involved with the Criminal Justice Honor Society, where I am currently the Vice President. Being a part of the honor society has been an incredible experience, allowing me to participate in all kinds of volunteer work as well as meet with and develop working relationships with professors, staff, as well as law enforcement officers and other professionals from all walks of life.

Additionally, I’ve also been able to work for Rutgers with the Department of Emergency Services. There, I am able to use my prior experience as a Firefighter to serve as an Emergency Services Officer, and hopefully soon as an EMT.

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