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From watching \u201cCriminal Minds\u201d to participating in a counterterrorism master\u2019s program in Washington, D.C., the University of Nebraska\u2013Lincoln helped Emily Stratmoen realize her dream of working with international\u00a0crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew what I wanted to do since the eighth grade,\u201d Stratmoen said. \u201cI knew I wanted to go into criminal justice. At first, I wanted to be like Spencer Reid from \u2018Criminal Minds,\u2019 but it has evolved\u00a0since.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hailing from Brookings, South Dakota, Stratmoen attributes her change in course to the professors in the university\u2019s national security studies minor program. And now, as the undergraduate prepares to graduate from Nebraska U on Aug. 20, she\u2019s planning to pursue her goal of being a counterthreat analyst by earning her master\u2019s degree in counterterrorism and homeland security policy at American University in Washington, D.C.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe second class I took for the minor, writing and briefing with professor Bettina Roundey, really got me interested in national security,\u201d Stratmoen said. \u201cWe followed a topic the entire semester, and then we practiced writing different portions of briefs and it evolved over the entire semester. So, in the end, you had a full panel of briefs that you know, if you were in that kind of a job, would be presented to the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of\u00a0State.\u201d<\/p>\n As a member of the pre-law program, Stratmoen was initially interested in working with international law and\u00a0crime.<\/p>\n \u201cInternational crime is a very big issue in today\u2019s world, especially with terrorism and extremism,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve always been interested in how these groups function and how they carry out these\u00a0attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n Through a course for her major, Stratmoen wrote a pair of deep-dive papers on how the different groups function. The project fueled her interest in the\u00a0field.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter taking that class I was looking into what I could do next since I\u2019m graduating in three years,\u201d she said. \u201cI wanted to go into something that combined my interest in international affairs with national security and protecting the country. I found this program that could lead to where I want to be, which is sitting in the office doing all of the reading, writing, intel and research. I want to be the one who\u2019s putting the pieces together and writing a brief to alert everyone who needs to know about these\u00a0threats.\u201d<\/p>\n Stratmoen discovered these interests not only through coursework but also through caring\u00a0professors.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some professors that I find to be really inspiring and who really helped me a lot,\u201d she said. \u201cI give all the credit to Bettina because she was the one who kind of understood my passion for national security. She was always willing to help regardless if you were out with COVID<\/span> or something like that, you could always just Zoom with her and she always gave super helpful feedback on my\u00a0work.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Julia McQuillian also encouraged Stratmoen along the way, and pushed her towards graduate\u00a0school.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was absolutely the most encouraging professor I\u2019ve had,\u201d Stratmoen said. \u201cShe\u2019s always rooting for you and asking how she can help. She cared for all of her students and even with such a big school and so many students. She even wrote a letter of recommendation for me for graduate school\u00a0applications.\u201d<\/p>\n As she prepares for the transition to American University this fall, Stratmoen is looking forward to the opportunities that being in the heart of Washington will provide. One of them includes a new gig \u2014\u00a0serving in a full-time position as a federal contractor working for the U.S.<\/span> Marshals\u00a0Service.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no better place to study because I\u2019m surrounded by all of the agencies,\u201d she said. \u201cHomeland Security is around the corner from my school. I think the best part about the program though, which is a lot why I chose to go there is the faculty are teaching on the side, but they\u2019re working in their careers during the day. The director of my program still works for the FBI<\/span>. The program is set up to where they make your classes so applicable and you\u2019re gaining experience right\u00a0away.\u201d<\/p>\n While looking forward to next steps, Stratmoen will remain connected to\u00a0Lincoln.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will always be home to me,\u201d she\u00a0said.<\/p>\n Stratmoen attended the University of Nebraska\u2013Lincoln because of its community, atmosphere and school spirit. She worked to be involved and was active across campus through involvements in Dance Marathon, club hockey, pre-law club, Greek life and\u00a0more.<\/p>\n \u201cI think overall my experience at UNL<\/span> has stemmed from the people,\u201d she said. \u201cThrough a lot of late nights and stressful days I surrounded myself with a really good group of people and I kept myself busy but it was still\u00a0manageable.\u201d<\/p>\n As she moves forward, Stratmoen is open to whatever the future may hold, whether that\u2019s a job opportunity in Washington or even attending law\u00a0school.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I had gone anywhere else, I don\u2019t think it would have been the same for me,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I wouldn\u2019t be going into grad school because I wouldn\u2019t have had the opportunity to really find my niche within the national security sector because there are only like three or four schools in the country that have this type of minor. The whole college part was great, but being able to find what I really enjoy put the cherry on\u00a0top.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n