From curiosity to career

Hayley Rigg isn’t sure yet what she will do when she graduates from the University of Cincinnati. But she is certain of one thing: There will be promising paths from which to choose.

The criminal justice major in UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services is already in demand. She has a pending internship with a large police department. And at a recent career day, a representative from the IRS Criminal Investigative Unit informed her that she was their No. 1 candidate from the fair.

“Keep us in mind if you want to work as a special agent in our division,” she was told.

Pleasantly surprised, she added the position to her list of career options.

Rigg will graduate with a minor in accounting and a certificate in crime/intelligence analysis.

“Last year I didn’t know about intelligence analysis. Now that’s my prime focus. But then again, maybe I’ll find something else,” she said.

”I can’t predict exactly what my life will be like after graduation. I love to learn, and the skills I’ve added have definitely helped prepare me for success. I’m really excited about what happens next.”

Rigg is a proud scholarship recipient.

“The scholarships have inspired me to put my best foot forward and to focus on my education,” she says. 

Rigg, who is from Sylvania, Ohio, toured numerous colleges while in high school.

“From the time I first set foot on UC’s campus, I knew it felt different from other places — the energy, the people, and the endless opportunities,” she says. “Other universities seemed to communicate, What can you do to make us look good? Whereas with UC it felt more like, How can we help support you and get you where you want to be? That stuck out to me. That’s how I immediately knew I had to come here.”

A fan of crime shows, Rigg has always been curious about criminal justice and intelligence work. No other subject or course major piqued her interest in the same way. The opportunities UC provides were beyond her expectations. She served as the Criminal Justice Chair of the CECH Tribunal last year and this year will serve as Career Expo Chair for the Criminal Justice Society, as well as an ambassador for the University Honors Program. She will also continue serving as treasurer for the Women in Criminal Justice club.

A paid, full-time summer research project through the University Honors Program is something she wouldn’t have thought possible even a year earlier. The project involves a literature review of studies examining tech-based educational programs for incarcerated individuals throughout the United States.

“We’re trying to see what states allow people to use tablets for free or purchase,” she explains. “This has enabled me to be part of something bigger, and I wouldn’t have guessed I’d be a part of it.”

Rigg’s gratitude for UC inspired her to become a CECH student ambassador during her second year. Last spring she called more than 300 prospective students and their families, answering their questions and offering her perspective. She is proud of that achievement and says CECH has a record number of enrollees this semester thanks largely to all the calls the ambassadors made.

Featured image at top: Hayley Rigg is a student in UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. Photo/UC Alumni Association