FBI Honors Internship Primes Samantha Kosziollek ’19 for Her FBI Career
Current Role: FBI Tactical Specialist/Staff Operations Specialist
Degree: B.A. and M.A. in Forensic Psychology
Programs: Accelerate Complete Engage (ACE) and Student Academic Success Programs (SASP)
Mentor: Nancy Yang, Associate Director of First Year Programs
Internship: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Honors Internship
Hometown: Queens, NY
Career Aspiration: Law Enforcement Special Agent, FBI
What was life like before John Jay?
I was very fortunate because I grew up in a close-knit family. My mom, dad, sister and I lived above my grandparent’s house. My grandpa, Joseph, who helped raise me, was my absolute best friend. He was always the first person I would go to when I got home from school, and he was very invested in my education. He had a real love of learning and I think that’s why I was academically driven. I wanted to make him proud. I’d read him my school papers and answer all his questions. He was always super supportive.
Grandpa worked for the U.S. Postal Service and showed me the importance of working in public service and bringing compassion, effective communication skills, empathy, dignity, integrity, and respect to your work. One of the things I’m most proud of is that my grandpa was able to see me graduate from John Jay and see me accomplish my dream of joining the FBI before he passed.
Shortly after his death, we went through his belongings and found my first FBI business card in his wallet. My mom said, “He bragged to everyone. He was so proud of you.” When I graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, I wore his United States Postal Service pin on my blazer. People remarked, “We don’t work for USPS,” and I replied, “I know, but the best person I know did, and he deserves to be on stage with me when I receive my credentials.” I carry my grandpa with me wherever I go.
Why John Jay?
I come from a CUNY-educated family. Both my mom and sister went to Queens College, so I understood the value of a CUNY education. In my research for colleges to apply to, I was looking at schools that specifically focused on forensic psychology or criminal justice. Then I came across John Jay and thought, this school is perfect for me. I visited the campus during an open house and had the chance to talk to students, professors, and members of the athletics department. I immediately knew John Jay was where I needed to be. When I got the acceptance letter, it was the happiest day of my life.
What sparked your passion for forensic psychology?
I felt forensic psychology balanced my two passions, criminal justice and psychology. I loved the idea of blending the two fields. I was also influenced by television shows that focused on crime investigations, like Criminal Minds. I was interested in understanding the mindset of others and loved the idea of being part of a behavioral analysis team. I wanted to examine not only what’s causing the perpetrator’s criminality, but also how the actions impact the victim after the event.
Can you tell us about your experience in the FBI Honors Internship?
I was an FBI Honors Intern during my junior and senior years at John Jay. At the time I applied, 35,000 students from across the country had already submitted applications. Initially, I wasn’t going to apply because I didn’t think I’d be selected, but after encouragement from my mentor, Nancy Yang, and my friends, I submitted my application. After interviews and tests, I got the internship offer to work in the FBI’s New York Field Office with the white-collar crime squad. I started in the FBI’s Brooklyn-Queens Resident Agency and as soon as I set foot in the office and met the squad, agents, and analysts, I knew I was where I needed to be.
I interned 16 hours a month during the academic year and then full-time during the summer. My focus was on big targets committing fraud, and I had the opportunity to work alongside a forensic accountant, where I learned how to follow the money trail. I often stayed extra hours to have agents explain various concepts to me because I was eager to learn more. What I loved most about the internship was that while I was assigned to one squad, I could interact with different squads. I was able to learn about different task forces and how the fit test works for existing FBI agents. The experience served as a wonderful introduction to my career and strengthened my desire to join the FBI. After my internship, I was offered a full-time position.
How did your mentor Nancy Yang help put you on the path to success?
Nancy Yang was one of my biggest cheerleaders at John Jay. Even today, years after graduating, she still checks in on me. I met her while I was in the SASP program and was applying to become a Peer Success Coach. Not only was I a peer success coach under Nancy’s guidance, I was also a student in her classroom taking two of her counseling courses. Through her teachings, I learned how to be a compassionate, active listener, and that’s a skill that’s so essential to my work today. Nancy also helped me when it came to the FBI Honors Internship. She wrote me my letter of recommendation and even let me use her classroom space for the interview. Before the interview, she helped me work through my feelings of imposter syndrome and uncertainty, and put things into perspective, reminding me that while those feelings were normal to have, they were not the truth. She was a grounding force for me, rooting me in reality and reminding me of my potential.
What is your role at the FBI?
I work as a tactical specialist in the intelligence division at the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, specifically with the Safe Trails Task Force, which focuses on violent crimes in Native American reservations. The task force collaborates with tribal law enforcement agencies, and state and local police, providing resources and intelligence.
I contribute to programmatic threat mitigation by developing both subject and victim profiles. I create identification packets that include information such as past criminal history and known associates—information that is critical to keeping our agents in the field safe. I also work with local community leaders, to provide training and ensure databases are updated with the latest information and threat trends.
What’s been the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Seeing victims get justice. I was able to attend a trial on a child sexual abuse case in the Muskogee area. I wasn’t directly involved in the case, but I was allowed in the courtroom to watch the proceedings. The children were two years old and under, and the abuse was committed by the partner of a family member. Sitting in the courtroom and hearing the special agents who worked the case, and the Assistant United States Attorney argue the case, was a profound experience for me. The jury took just 15 minutes to deliberate and found the perpetrator guilty. There was such a look of relief on the faces of the agents, prosecutors, and family members. Knowing that the FBI played a role in ending that family’s nightmare and seeking justice for those children was incredibly affirming.
What advice do you have for students who want to follow in your footsteps?
Self-care is so important. You want to make sure you’re in the right head space to do your work but also allow yourself to be human. Take the time to nourish your body and your mind. Go for walks and get some fresh air. Those moments of self-care can help put things into perspective. Give yourself grace, especially when something isn’t going right.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope to become a Special Agent with the FBI, focusing on the agency's Violent Crimes Against Children Program to help protect children. Additionally, I would like to return to the Tri-State Area to earn my doctorate in clinical psychology. Like my Grandpa Joseph, I have a passion for continuous learning and I never want to stop expanding my knowledge.
