First-Generation Kelly/Strul Student Victoria Armand to Spend Next Year with Peace Corps in Thailand

This fall, Victoria Armand, a first-generation Criminal Justice major from Boca Raton whose mother was born in Haiti, received her graduation cord, as well as a letter of recognition from Dean Naelys Luna. Next year she’ll be serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand in the Youth and Development sector.

Victoria completed her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with minors in Social Work and Nonprofit Management this fall. She’s a proud first-generation student and a member of the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program, as well as the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice Soar-In-4 Scholars Program.

“Victoria is a leader,” said Sigal Rubin, MSCCJ, senior instructor and undergraduate program coordinator. “I see really big things for her. Whatever it is she wants to do, she’ll not only do it; she’ll thrive doing it.”

Rubin, who serves as faculty mentor for the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Soar-in-4 students, says Victoria has always stood out.

“The questions she would ask, both as a student and also as a mentee, are so insightful. And when you’re asking insightful questions, it really says a lot about who you are and the type of critical thinking that you possess.”

During her time at Florida Atlantic, Victoria worked as an intern with the Palm Beach County Reentry Services Department and at Breakthrough Miami, an organization that provides academic enrichment programs to help motivated, under-resourced 5th through 12th grade students access better educational opportunities, prepare for college, and graduate from high school on time.

The Soar-in-4 Program

The Soar-in-4 program is a university-wide initiative that focuses on helping first-time-in-college (FTIC) students stay on track and graduate with their bachelor’s degree in four years or less. Students are selected based on high school performance, incoming test scores, GPA, and faculty recommendations. 

Soar-in-4 is about more than just keeping students on track, however.

“It’s also a leadership development program,” says Sandra Jakubow, academic advisor and Soar-in-4 program coordinator for the college.

“We help students hone their career development skills. We develop their networking opportunities through the college: they receive special invitations to attend networking receptions with our college advisory board, and they’re invited to special events, such as the annual Heart of Social Work.”

Soar-in-4 students also serve as ambassadors for the College, meeting with new and prospective students and transfers.

The FTIC Student Experience

“Being first gen, it was kind of hard to find my place and figure out what path to take,” said Victoria. “It was hard to figure out my footing and where I wanted to go. But truly, FAU has helped me open doors, spread my wings, and just find out who I am and where I want to be.”

Victoria’s decision to go into the reentry field was partly shaped by her own experiences growing up.

As the middle child of three sisters and daughter to a single mother, Victoria says she understands the impulses children feel to act out. While she never got into any legal trouble herself, she learned at a young age what a difference it makes for kids when dedicated teachers reach out.

Hoping to emulate the people who had made such a difference in her life, Victoria initially wanted to teach elementary and middle school math. But when she started studying criminal justice, she fell in love with the discipline and her goals switched to working in juvenile justice, which allows her to pursue her dream of working with children.

Plans for the Future

In keeping with her Nonprofit Management minor, Victoria hopes to start her own organization after she completes her service in the Peace Corps.

“When I come back from Thailand, I hope to get my master’s in public administration and work in the juvenile reentry field for a couple of years,” Victoria said.  “Once I see the gaps in the system, I hope to fill them by creating a nonprofit that addresses those issues for children and their families. I plan to call it The Children of Tomorrow.”