Chance of a Lifetime Students and professor participate in the Department of Homeland Security’s Summer Research Team Program From left: Dr. Omar Camarillo, Xandra James and Cecilia Torres
Dr. Omar Camarillo, an assistant
science, and cryptocurrency.”
professor of criminal justice at
Cecilia, a junior double majoring
ENMU, and students Cecilia Torres (attending) and Xandra James (attending) recently participated in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Selection to the program, according to Dr. Camarillo, was very competitive, with three phases of interviews and reviews before being selected.
justice, said her chance for handson experience in crime analysis techniques was invaluable. “This program has allowed me to see what research really entails, and I thoroughly enjoy it.” Xandra is a double major in criminal justice and sociology with a minor in psychology, and was thrilled to experience even more than the valuable insight and experience the DHS Research
“It was a great pleasure to be
Team Program afforded her.
around a supportive group of
“My experience in this program
individuals who have similar
is one that I wouldn’t have been
research agendas and who have
able to have elsewhere. The faculty
an interest in the U.S.–Mexico
at George Mason University are
border,” Cecilia said. “We were
very supportive of our research,”
provided with the opportunity to
Xandra said. “I also got to explore
attend lectures from some of the
Washington D.C. every weekend
world’s leading experts on human
and experience groundbreaking
trafficking, networking analysis,
American history with my
forensic and digital forensic
own eyes.”
Young Alumni Success Story
Thalia Pantoja Roswell Marketing
Thalia Pantoja (AA 16) credits her education at ENMU for her success as the marketing and communications coordinator for the city of Roswell. “A lot of my work is gathering information from departments in order to share it with the public, whether through graphics, videos or general posts,” Thalia said. “I create content for the city social media channels – Instagram and Twitter mostly – purchase ads, and develop marketing plans and content for events and different department programs.” Thalia, a Hagerman, New Mexico native, came to ENMU following her sister, Elizabeth Pantoja Najar (BS 15), and found she loved it in Portales. “I think my time at ENMU prepared me for everything it could have. I worked with wonderful professors and staff,” Thalia said.
in forensic science and criminal
