From Legal Studies to Law Enforcement

To say Alyssa Klonowski ’23 was involved in many facets of campus life is an understatement. While at Fisher, the Buffalo, New York native immersed herself in both the Fisher and greater Rochester communities.

A stand-out member of the softball team, Klonowski was named 2022 Empire 8 Co-Player of the Year and collected several other records and accolades throughout her time in the Cardinal uniform. She has also been an integral member of Teddi Dance for Love, Fisher’s longest-running student-led organization. Serving as vice chair of Teddi 40 and chair of Teddi 41, she said these roles were especially influential to her development as a campus leader. “I learned what it meant to be a part of something that was bigger than myself, how to lead a group of individuals with the kindest hearts, the time and commitment that goes into planning large scale events, and what the Fisher community does for those around them,” she said.

In addition to her extracurricular activities, Klonowski, a legal studies major, also took advantage of the academic opportunities afforded to her during her education. One of the most important of these opportunities was serving as an intern for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. “Here, I was able to spend time working in different departments, experiencing each unit we offer in Monroe County,” she said. “I was able to get some insight into the Crime Lab, the K-9 unit, the medical examiners and their role in assisting in the opioid crisis here in Rochester, and the mounted patrol and their correlation to community relations. After my time ended with my internship, I can confidently say this is the path I want for my future.”

Her passion for her coursework, paired with the experience she deeply enjoyed with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, helped to solidify her choice of career path in law enforcement. “Attending a liberal arts university has allowed me to have a well-rounded education. I changed my major five times and still was able to graduate on time. With the help of my advisors and professors, I was able to dive deep into many fields of study to gain a better idea of what I really wanted to do after graduation.”

This summer and into the fall, Klonowski will be training with the Rochester Police Department in a fellowship role, monitoring cameras in real time to help prevent crime and provide officers responding to a call with as much information about the situation as possible to ensure their safety. Beginning in the fall, she hopes to obtain a full-time position with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. In the future, she hopes to work her way up to a deputy, and to pursue her dream of earning a position on a K-9 unit.