John Jay College Of Criminal Justice | The City University of New York

   

Kalyssa Daley, a Criminology major, was accepted into the highly competitive and prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation Volunteer Internship Program this summer. The program is a ten-week internship that offers junior or senior undergraduates, graduates or post-doctorate students insight into the FBI’s operations and the opportunity to explore possible career prospects. According to the FBI’s website, “FBI Volunteer Interns will spend the summer working side-by-side with FBI employees on a whole array of organizational matters and in some instances important cases that are vital to the FBI's mission.”

Competing against hundreds of New York’s most outstanding students, Daley secured one of the highly coveted places after her application was rejected the year before. Daley said she was initially drawn to the FBI as a sophomore. After speaking with Special Agent Brian O'Rourke who visited Professor John Walsh’s police science class in the fall of her junior year, she decided to reapply.

Professor Walsh, Daley’s mentor in the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration, helped prepare her for the application. “Kalyssa is a remarkable young woman. She is a credit to John Jay and will be a valuable asset to the FBI,” said Walsh.

Special Agent O’Rourke said, “My first impression has been proven accurate; Kalyssa is a poised, smart, ambitious, and enthusiastic young woman with a limitless future. In an age of Iphones, excessive texting and e-mail, Kalyssa makes eye contact, is a great conversationalist, and genuinely interested in forging a human connection. People will follow Kalyssa because she has the attributes of a great leader.”

But Daley’s motivation to join the FBI is grounded in lessons of service and goodness to others from her parents. “My parents taught me to always help others before worrying about yourself and let karma take care of the rest. That has always and continues to drive me. This internship gives me the opportunity to do what I am passionate about.”

Maintaining a 3.4 GPA, Daley is also a student-athlete. She has played on the John Jay Women’s Softball team since her freshman year. This year she was named co-captain and received the Most Improved Player award.

“As a student-athlete I have learned valuable life lessons, such as how to remain focused and undeterred when tasks become difficult and how to manage my time effectively,” said Daley. “Playing softball has enabled me to devote myself to something other than academics, and I've learned how to balance and manage the two. I believe in leading by example and hope that my teammates will follow in my footsteps. During my time with the FBI, I want to apply and improve the skills I have acquired during my undergraduate career.”

Danielle Bonici, Head Women's Softball Coach, said, “Kalyssa's dream has always been to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I am very proud of this huge accomplishment. She is a true example of a student-athlete and I have the utmost confidence that she will excel in her internship this summer.”

Daley has commended the widespread diversity at John Jay as being a characteristic that has and will help her, saying that such exposure to various, nationalities, religions, ethnicities and cultures has left her with an openness that will only benefit her through life.

“I want to thank everyone that helped me with this process - my family, friends, teammates, professors, coaches and the rest of the John Jay community,” said Daley.