When Diana Ambrosio walks across the UHD commencement stage on Friday, Dec. 12, it will be her second time to receive a UHD diploma. The Gator with a heart for service received her BS in Criminal Justice in fall 2022. This Friday, Ambrosio will receive her Master of Science in Criminal Justice.
An advocate for victims’ rights, Ambrosio is interested in the work of nonprofits like the Houston Area Women’s Center and the Texas Advocacy Project. So when it came time to pick a topic for her thesis, it wasn’t surprising that she chose to hone in on intimate partner violence survivors—but with a twist: “A Qualitative Study of Latina Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ and Advocates’ Perceptions and Interactions with Law Enforcement” was the impetus for her research. Ambrosio wisely found a way to intertwine her passion for victims’ rights with her criminal justice studies.
Beyond academics, Ambrosio gave of her time and talents to a number of student organizations while at UHD. She served as vice president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association, as well as vice president of Latinas Achieve and the business manager for The Dateline. She also found time to be a member of Alpha Phi Sigma and the Professional Society of Criminal Justice Students and served on the search committee for the new dean for the College of Public Service.
“I enjoyed my time at UHD,” said Ambrosio. “I'm thankful for all the experiences I had throughout my time in grad school. Being in the student organizations definitely assisted me in stepping out of my comfort zone and doing things that I did not see myself doing. I am proud to call myself a UHD Gator.”
Now she is ready to start her career and is looking forward to sharing her expertise with a local nonprofit. A true Gator, Ambrosio is destined to make a difference in our community and in the lives of those she serves.
