Meet Clesha Nelson
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Learning for the LAPD

Within three months of graduating from AIU Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Clesha Nelson had landed herself a job that is a solid stepping-stone to a career with the Los Angeles Police Department. As a bike patrol officer working in conjunction with the LAPD's Central Division, Clesha has already attracted the notice of her superiors; entry to the LAPD Police Academy shouldn't be too far down the road.

"My mom and dad are so very, very proud of me. They brag about me every day."

Clesha's parents have a lot to brag about. Not only is she now well on her way to a career in criminal justice, but, prior to attending AIU Los Angeles, Clesha worked as a nurse for nearly three years and taught third grade at a private school. "Career-wise, I'm always on the move. Growing up, I was interested in both nursing and some type of law; the decision I had to make was which one to do first. I decided on nursing and now, having done that, I'm ready to move onto law."

Clesha first learned about AIU Los Angeles from a television commercial about its new Criminal Justice program. "As soon as I saw it, I knew it was time to move on from nursing. I went to the campus and asked lots of questions and here I am, less than two years later, with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice."

While she is not yet technically a member of the LAPD, Clesha works closely with them. She has the authority to confiscate and make arrests in an area covering 100 blocks and including nearly 3,000 businesses. After only a few months she got a raise. "It's a pretty heavy job, but it's preparing me well for the LAPD."

Clesha says her classes helped prepare her for a criminal justice career as well. "I had the same two professors for most every class, and they were fantastic. They were both professionals, knew what they were talking about and, most importantly, had hands-on experience in each subject they taught."

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