Stephanie Vezzani, Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service Stephanie Vezzani wasn’t sure what she wanted to major in when she entered the University of Akron, but she did know what she wanted to do with her life: she wanted a career as a crime fighter. Vezzani began as an accounting major, but switched to sociology when she dis- covered the department offered a special concentration in law enforcement. Vezzani is now an agent with the U.S. Secret Service, whose twofold mission is to protect high-ranking officials and their families and to investigate financial crimes, includ- ing counterfeiting, identity theft, and computer-based attacks on the financial, banking, and telecommunications industries. She has tackled both aspects of the job. For her, a typical week would include working on a criminal investigation in a field office or traveling around the country with a government official in need of protection. Vezzani finds that travel is one of the most exciting aspects of her job. Over the past six years she has visited Russia, Turkey, Jordan, Vietnam, and South Korea. She also attended the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where she provided pro- tection for the athletes living in the Olympic Village. Vezzani relishes meeting people from different cultures, and of course she loves the sights she gets to see. “The architecture in St. Petersburg, Russia, was amazing,” she says. Vezzani uses her training in sociology on a daily basis, as she interviews suspects, witnesses, and victims of crime. “It is critical in the field of law enforcement to have an understanding of people’s relationships and the beliefs and value systems that contribute to their decision making,” she explains. “Sociology has provided me the knowledge to speak to and listen to peo- ple with different values and cultures in order to complete my job at the highest level possible.” LET’S DISCUSS 1. Besides an awareness of different beliefs, values, and cul- tures, what else might sociology offer to those who serve in law enforcement? 2. Law enforcement is a relatively new career option for women. What special strengths do you think a woman might bring to police work?
Stephanie Vezzani, Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service Stephanie Vezzani wasn’t sure what she wanted to major in when she entered the University of Akron, but she did know what she wanted to do with her life: she wanted a career as a crime fighter. Vezzani began as an accounting major, but switched to sociology when she dis- covered the department offered a special concentration in law enforcement. Vezzani is now an agent with the U.S. Secret Service, whose twofold mission is to protect high-ranking officials and their families and to investigate financial crimes, includ- ing counterfeiting, identity theft, and computer-based attacks on the financial, banking, and telecommunications industries. She has tackled both aspects of the job. For her, a typical week would include working on a criminal investigation in a field office or traveling around the country with a government official in need of protection. Vezzani finds that travel is one of the most exciting aspects of her job. Over the past six years she has visited Russia, Turkey, Jordan, Vietnam, and South Korea. She also attended the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where she provided pro- tection for the athletes living in the Olympic Village. Vezzani relishes meeting people from different cultures, and of course she loves the sights she gets to see. “The architecture in St. Petersburg, Russia, was amazing,” she says. Vezzani uses her training in sociology on a daily basis, as she interviews suspects, witnesses, and victims of crime. “It is critical in the field of law enforcement to have an understanding of people’s relationships and the beliefs and value systems that contribute to their decision making,” she explains. “Sociology has provided me the knowledge to speak to and listen to peo- ple with different values and cultures in order to complete my job at the highest level possible.” LET’S DISCUSS 1. Besides an awareness of different beliefs, values, and cul- tures, what else might sociology offer to those who serve in law enforcement? 2. Law enforcement is a relatively new career option for women. What special strengths do you think a woman might bring to police work?
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