Major: Corporate Security
Hometown: York, Pennsylvania
Internship Site: Amazon
Semester Completed: Summer 2020
What was your favorite aspect of your internship?
My favorite part of the internship was creating my main project. I took data from a specific site type, specifically focusing on theft and workplace violence incidents. This data would be used to create a calculation which would determine the overall risk of the site. I was told throughout my internship that Loss Prevention headcount is typically low at warehouses, which I believed could have a correlation to how often events occurred at the site.
What did you learn in class that prepared you for your internship?
The two classes I found benefitted me the most were Personnel Security and Corporate Security Investigations. In Personnel Security, the main focus was on preventing a workplace violence incident. Due to personnel being the main asset of every company, I believe it is crucial to recognize any red flags that could hint that an incident may occur. In a large site, such as a warehouse, it can be more difficult since there is less opportunity for consistent interactions, which is why I chose to focus on this risk for my project. Loss Prevention is also tasked with any internal investigations related to theft, workplace violence, and, at the moment, COVID-tracing. Because of this, I found the information discussed in Corporate Security Investigations to be valuable. The main investigative technique used at Amazon was discussed in detail in the Investigations course and I found it was beneficial to have background knowledge on the method.
What are your future goals?
In the future, I hope to have a career related to physical security. Specifically, I am very interested in working in Aviation Security. There are numerous aspects of Aviation Security which we learn about in this major, such as emergency management, physical security, and investigative methods, so I believe my education has greatly prepared me for a career in this field.
What would you say to someone considering SRU’s Homeland and Corporate Security Studies program?
I believe these are the most impactful majors someone can choose if they care about the safety and protection of others. The information taught in the Security Studies program can help prepare students for a career in both the public and private sector. No matter what someone’s interests are, there will be courses taught that will greatly benefit them in their future careers. The department also gives plenty of opportunities to get involved in clubs and network with people who are currently in the security field.
