Dana Zolla was a huge fan of the TV show "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and its spin-offs. So, when she got the opportunity to shadow a real-life crime scene investigator, she jumped.
That experience helped her land a job with the Lake County, Florida, Sheriff's Office after graduating with a bachelor's degree in forensic studies and justice in spring 2025.
It all began during her freshman year, when Zolla participated in the Innovation Scholars Career Exploration Program at USF St. Petersburg, which kicks off a new academic year this week. The program offers job-shadowing opportunities for incoming first-year and transfer students, providing an early introduction to career possibilities that can help them choose a major and plan their path forward.
The program has grown in popularity since it started in 2019. Each cohort has 50 to 70 students, and mentors come from more than 100 organizations throughout the Tampa Bay region, says Rita Zwiefel, career experience and internship coordinator at USF St. Petersburg's Center for Career and Professional Development.
"It really shows how much the community is willing to help students carve out pathways for themselves," she says.
Job shadowing inspires students' career ambitions — and helps them cross some off their list.
"Both outcomes are a win-win," Zwiefel says. "If a student is matched with their mentor and they really love their experience and they're able to get plugged into that community, that's great. But the other side of it is the benefit of a student realizing early on that they aren't interested in that field and they're able to put their time and energy into something else."
Zolla was paired with a St. Petersburg Police Department forensic technician during the 2022-23 academic year. She worked the night shift, going to crime scenes with her mentor about once a month. Her mentor
introduced her to other forensic technicians, arranged for Zolla to tour the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center and connected her with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, which led to an internship.
"I was able to see so much," Zolla says. "That's what lit the fire underneath me to pursue this career."
She's encouraged many high school students to participate in Innovation Scholars.
"It offers something for everyone," Zolla says. "The program shows you what you need to learn about a field, which classes you need to take, and how to map out the rest of your college experience in order to make your career the best that it can be."
The program, now entering its seventh year, kicks off Thursday, Sept. 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Lynn Pippenger Hall.