Name: Natalee Huber
Hometown: Hunt Valley, Maryland
Year: Class of 2023
Major: Psychology with minors in Chinese and criminal justice
Internship: Huber is interning for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), at the joint base Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, South Carolina, where she gains experience in NCIS operations, concerning active and retired U.S. Navy and Marine Corps members and families. She shadows current NCIS Special Agents to collect evidence, interview suspects, analyze crime scenes, execute search warrants, obtain DNA and fingerprint samples, write case reports and warrants, attend high-profile meetings with other federal agencies and reviews cold cases. Huber works alongside HPU alumni Dan Zeman, Class of 2013.
How HPU helped you get there: “HPU educators and staff have always made my educational and personal goals a priority. The opportunities HPU offers are filled with wonderful steppingstones of professional and academic lessons that resulted in this dream internship. The ‘extraordinary’ that President Nido Qubein always speaks of is evident in every aspect of my HPU experience. Being a part of the Student Justice program, president of the Criminal Justice Club and working in the Office of Student Conduct, has exposed me to real-life experiences that have helped me with communication and perceptive skills to work in my desired career field. Besides clubs and organizations, HPU’s Office of Career and Professional Development supplied detailed career counseling and worked tirelessly to assist my internship application process.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Dr. Deborah Danzis, Dr. Bobby Little and Kellie McLeod are my most impactful mentors. Danzis, associate professor of psychology, is my advisor and has ensured my class choices optimized my career goals and assisted with my plan to balance school and internship responsibilities. Little, chair and professor of criminal justice, shared expertise from his prior law enforcement experience that provided valuable insight into what to expect from this internship. McLeod, senior career advisor in the Office of Career and Professional Development, helped me research and prepare for my interview and security background checks. My mentors provided the resources and guidance I needed, and I appreciate their help. It was undoubtedly a team effort, and each piece of their advice enhanced my hard work to prepare for this internship.”
What has your internship experience been like, and how is it preparing you for your future?: “This internship has been the highlight of my college career. I have not only enjoyed the entire experience at NCIS Charleston but learned a tremendous amount to further my career direction. This experience has changed my perspective on federal government work and helped define my career path. After graduation, I want to earn my master’s in forensic psychology and pursue law school, where I know I will utilize what I have learned from this internship to pursue a job in the federal government and criminal justice. I am very thankful to the entire NCIS Charleston crew and the HPU staff, who have made this dream come true.”
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