Georgiana Willems, a December 2023 graduate of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, says her bachelor’s degree has enhanced the skills she’s gained as an already-experienced EMT and firefighter

Georgiana Willems’ journey to finding a way to professionally help others began in her Frederick County, Md. high school. At a career fair there, she met the New Market District Volunteer Fire Company, who was recruiting new members at the time. 

“I talked to the recruiter and became very interested in becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT) and firefighter,” Willems said. “At 16 years old I joined New Market and took the steps in becoming an EMT.” 

After taking the steps to become an EMT, Willems went on to complete firefighter training. But that wasn’t the only continuing education Willems desired: After high school, she decided to enroll in the University of Maryland’s criminology and criminal justice program while continuing to work as an EMT and firefighter with New Market.

Willems credits various UMD classes for helping her acquire behavioral skills and sharpen her communication skills, especially with patient understanding.

“On behavioral calls, I am able to apply my sociological and psychological skills to try to further understand the patient and what they are going through,” Willems said. “My classes dealing with children and delinquency have also helped me on calls with juveniles and law enforcement-related calls for service.”  

Overall, Willems feels that her work as an EMT and classes at UMD have jointly improved her personal, technological, and leadership skills. 

In recognition of those leadership skills, Willems was celebrated at a fall 2023 BSOS Scholarship and Donor Reception Dinner for receiving the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation Leadership Scholarship, a merit-based scholarship for demonstrated student leaders interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.  

“I’m honored to be recognized as a recipient of this prestigious scholarship,” she said. 

Willems is interested in one day becoming a Maryland State Police State Trooper/Flight Medic, or becoming a paramedic and traveling the world. In the more immediate future, however, Willems plans to gain more  EMT expertise by working with the Frederick County Fire and Rescue’s Paramedic Class #10, which she will graduate from in November 2024.

“The bonds I’ve created within the station and out I would never trade. I could not imagine walking away from this field anytime soon,” Willems said. 

This article was written by Sofia Appolonio, JOUR '26