Nicole Day

Sometimes, all it takes is a sign to set you on your journey. For Wappingers Falls, New York, resident Nicole Day, it was a literal exit sign on I-84 East that helped her find her path.

“I truly had no idea what I wanted to study or where I wanted to go to college, but I knew I wanted to go somewhere,” Day said. “As a child my dream was to be a fashion designer and go to FIT, then I wanted to be a marine scientist and go to Coastal Carolina, then I wanted to go to SUNY Oneonta for art. I ended up going to SUNY Orange for the fall 2018 semester and SUNY Dutchess for the spring 2019 semester, and I was all over the place and very much lost.”

The universe soon showed her the way. One day while riding along as a passenger to bring her younger sister to a concert at Mohegan Sun, they passed the exit sign on I-84 for Western Connecticut State University. Day said, “It was like something clicked in my head.” She spent the entire day looking online at everything the university had to offer. “The price influenced my decision a lot,” she said. “I believe that the quality of my education at WestConn rivals many other big-name schools for a fraction of the cost. Offering New York residents in-state tuition is honestly such an amazing thing, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of another school offering something like that.” Ultimately, what made her decide to transfer to WestConn was its affordability, distance from home, class sizes, and amenities; and the most important thing to her at the time, its cheerleading program.

Nicole Day with her grandma on Senior Day at Roy C. Ketcham High School.

As the spring 2019 semester drew to a close at SUNY Dutchess, Day lost her biggest supporter, her grandmother. “I almost completely abandoned the idea of going back to college because I wanted to stay home and grieve,” she said. “But she would have been so disappointed in me if I jeopardized my future.”

So, she transferred and began the fall 2019 semester at WestConn as an Art major to follow her childhood dream of being a fashion designer or book illustrator. The universe, however, had other plans.

“On my first day in my painting class, an older student walked in who reminded me so much of my grandma, and even wore her favorite color,” Day recalled. “I was so distraught that I had to drop the class. Because I had already registered for five classes, I had to replace it and ended up enrolling in ‘Intro to Criminal Justice 1’ with Professor George Kain. This ended up being the best decision of my life. I finished out my classes for the fall 2019 semester, changed my major to Justice and Law Administration – Criminology, and began my journey.”

One could argue that her journey began that afternoon on I-84 East as she crossed from New York State into Connecticut.

Day stayed in Centennial Hall while at WestConn, was on the cheer team and was a PASS (Promoting Academically Successful Students) Mentor. She also became a member of Sigma Delta Tau, one of the two national sororities on campus. “During my time as an active member, I was Treasurer and Secretary, President, Social Media/Ad and PR Chair, Chapter Legacy Chair, and Health and Wellness Chair.”

She made it a priority to make connections with her professors. “Professor George Kain introduced me to the amazing world of Criminal Justice when I was still finding out who I wanted to be,” Day said. “Dr. Casey Jordan, the smartest, most understandable, and most amazing woman I have ever met, gave me the guidance I needed and real-world advice on how to navigate the JLA program.” Day also called out her cheerleading coach, Coach Deborah Bisaccia, “I love you coach Deb! Thank you for accepting me onto your team and giving me the chance to shine. I am the woman I am today because of you, and I am now also a cheer coach at Roy C. Ketcham High School in my hometown!”

Nicole Day at her 2022 graduation.

Day received a Bachelor of Science in Justice and Law Administration with a Concentration in Criminology in 2022 and immediately enrolled in WestConn’s Master of Science in Homeland Security program. “I just finished my master’s this past August,” she said. “I am actually part of the first cohort to graduate from the new master’s program.”

During her graduate studies, in addition to working three jobs, Day obtained a paid internship with FEMA’s Region 7 Operational Planning Team. “My internship took place from June 17 to August 24 in Kansas City, Missouri,” she said. “I completely relocated from New York to Missouri for this opportunity. During that time, I wrote a research paper on Electromagnetic Pulses (EMPs) and their impact on emergency response and recovery operations. I displayed clear, concise writing and completed the assigned task ahead of schedule with an impressive level of research in a short amount of time. I also reviewed jurisdictional profiles for the nine federally recognized tribes in Region 7, editing grammar and formatting as well as checking content accuracy. I was able to gain familiarity with tribal emergency management matters and resources.” She also received glowing reviews from her FEMA instructors.

Day said her FEMA internship is valuable for a counter-terrorism career because it gave her experience in emergency response, risk assessment, and crisis management — skills that are critical when responding to and preventing terrorist incidents. “I also gained insight into interagency collaboration, which is key in counter-terrorism efforts,” she said. “This experience helps bridge the gap between disaster management and counter-terrorism, making me well-prepared for the transition.”

It’s been quite a journey from her previous dreams of being an artist to her current path. “I’m passionate about working in counter-terrorism because I want to contribute to national security and protect citizens from evolving global threats,” Day said. “With my academic background and commitment to continuous learning, I’m eager to work with agencies that focus on preventing and neutralizing terror threats.”

Nicole Day with her parents and younger sister, who is now at WestConn.

Day said obtaining an education at WestConn was the best decision she made. “WCSU is a place where opportunities are born,” she said. “There are so many ways that this school outshines others. For starters, there is a place for everyone. Every single student can find a safe space for themselves that will help them thrive and prosper. Our athletic teams are unbelievably talented and dedicated, our professors are brilliant and truly care about the success of their students, our club and organization list grows bigger and bigger every year, our two campuses are beautiful; I could go on for days.”

This has proven to be true not only for Day, but for some very important people in her life. “My best friend, Kaelin Giddings, has recently gone back to school and has been absolutely crushing it in her nursing classes at WestConn. And my beautiful little sister, Danielle, who has followed in my footsteps and has transferred here, just finished sorority recruitment and has been accepted into Sigma Delta Tau!”

Day continued, “College is what YOU make of it! One of the most amazing things about WestConn is how much they care for their students. Clubs Carnival, REC Fest, Fall Bash, Homecoming, PAC Bingo, etc. — there are so many opportunities to get out and meet new people. I have listened to too many people complain about how college isn’t fun, there’s nothing to do, they want to go home, etc.; but that’s just not true here. I think it’s very important for incoming freshmen and transfer students to realize that the fun times will not wait for you or chase you down. WestConn does an amazing job of providing a fun and positive atmosphere for their students. So, commuters, stay on campus for an hour or two after class and find your people. Those who live on campus, get out of that dorm bed and make some memories. Because despite what you may think, there is more to those four years than a piece of paper at the end.”

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.