Daniela Imig, MS

Find your niche – there is so much more to criminal justice than law enforcement or probation. This field desperately needs passionate, critical thinkers who are willing to go against the status quo and fix the system from the inside.

Why did you study criminal justice?

Growing up, my dad was a sergeant at the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, so I became preoccupied with the criminal justice field at a young age. I knew early on that being in law enforcement was not the path for me so I decided to pursue the degree and see where it would take me. It wasn’t until I became immersed in the criminal justice graduate program that I really became obsessed with finding my niche, which turned out to be the pretrial field.

What’s unique about studying criminal justice at UW-Milwaukee?

I’d say the most unique thing about studying at UWM is the depth of experience among the professors & lecturers. I always felt like there was someone for almost every aspect of the field from whom I could seek assistance.

If you did a field placement, how did this experience help you?

My field placement actually helped me realize what I didn’t want to do with my career – I found I wasn’t cut out for the more punitive nature that career path had in store for me. I’m grateful I found that out before I invested any number of years in a career that would ultimately be unfulfilling.

How did HBSSW help you?

The professors I had in my masters courses truly believed in me as a student when I didn’t believe in myself. I know it sounds corny, but when you have someone like Dr. Tina Freiburger (now the Dean of the HBSSW) actively telling you she believes you’re going to do great things, you eventually start to believe it and you go off and do great things. If I didn’t have the confidence of professors like her in my corner, I might not be in the most fulfilling career of my life right now.

What’s your best advice for criminal justice students?

Find your niche – there is so much more to criminal justice than law enforcement or probation. This field desperately needs passionate, critical thinkers who are willing to go against the status quo and fix the system from the inside.

Where is Daniela Imig, MS now?

Daniela Imig is vice president of communications and network initiatives at The Difference Principle.