This profile is part of a series that highlights Chesapeake College graduates serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more in this series, visit our Alumni page.

Name: Lisa Phillips

Year of graduation: May 2018

Degree received: Associate of Applied Science

Current position/Employer: Criminal Justice Adjunct Instructor/Chesapeake College/Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy

What impact did your experience at Chesapeake College have in your life? My educational time at Chesapeake assisted me in being able to supplement my experience at the time for the promotional process at the police department I was employed. This led to me accomplishing being promoted to the rank of Sergeant and being able to have my own squad. Which in turn, led to me being able to further influence officers of the department, holding them to a high standard and accomplishing the mission of the department in a professional manner.

How are you serving your community in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic? While employed at the police department, I was in charge of a patrol squad that was on the front lines dealing with the effects of the town dealing with a pandemic. This included the fact that the public themselves were dealing with the inability to go to work, not having the money to cover basic needs and the pressure of being quarantined with family members that they normally didn’t have to be around. This led to officers having to deal with the public in extreme mental and emotional states, leading to the officers having increased stress. Members of the police department are the stability in a time that is completely out of control. Not only was I, as a supervisor, doing my best to tend to the needs of the town, but more importantly those of the squad, so that they could continue to go out day after day and assist the public.

Since my retirement for the police department, I am continuing to assist law enforcement officers by teaching several different in-service classes and also teaching classes at the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy. Those classes include medical and Crisis Intervention – both of which are very important during this pandemic.

How did your experience at Chesapeake College prepare you for your current career?  My experience at Chesapeake College prepared me for the diversity that I encounter when teaching classes. As a student, there was a diversity among the students and as an instructor I still see that diversity. Experiencing it as a student taught me the differences of people that attend the college and helped me learn about cultural and ethnic differences, which has turned into being able to connect with students in classroom, regardless of cultural and ethnic differences.

What is your most rewarding professional achievement/experience since graduating from Chesapeake College? My most rewarding achievement since graduating from Chesapeake College is being able to retire from the police department and devote my time to teaching law enforcement officers so that they are better prepared for the challenges that they face on a daily basis.

What advice would you like to give current or prospective Chesapeake College Students? Don’t ever let anyone determine your life path.  If it’s something that you love and are passionate about, go after it. This doesn’t mean just in the area of employment….this goes for anything in life.