How returning to school strengthened a seasoned police officer’s voice, vision, and impact
When Jessie Romanchick enrolled at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), he was already an accomplished law enforcement professional. After nearly two decades with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), including in senior executive roles, he had built a career grounded in military service, leadership, and public safety.
Last month, Captain Romanchick stepped into his newest role as division director of internal affairs for one of the nation’s largest statewide policing agencies. Yet even with years of experience behind him, Romanchick knew there was still room for growth.
“I realized years ago that while I was gaining tons of real-world experience, the education piece was something I had to complete,” he said. “It was only going to make me better.”
That understanding led him to UMGC, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in December 2025. What he gained, he says, was more than a credential, including valuable perspective, validation, and a deeper understanding of his profession.
An accomplished leader seeking something more
Romanchick’s path to law enforcement began at 18, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After active duty, he transitioned into the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, then joined the Scranton Police Department. His colleagues encouraged him to apply to the Pennsylvania State Police, an opportunity he describes as a defining step in his career.
Over 19 years, he served in a wide range of roles, including executive officer to both the commissioner and deputy commissioner of operations. He also graduated from the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy, an honor reserved for less than one percent of law enforcement officers worldwide.
For him, continuing his education was the next step in a lifelong commitment to growth and learning. “No matter what experience you have, education gives you the ability to be a better critical thinker. It expands your ideas,” Romanchick said.
Gaining new perspective from new voices
For Romanchick, one of the most transformative aspects of UMGC’s program was the variety of viewpoints he encountered among his classmates.
“You’re having discussions with people outside of law enforcement,” he said. “You get perspectives from people who have either a positive or negative opinion of policing. Those discussions were incredibly valuable.”
Such conversations helped him step outside what he calls the “fishbowl” effect that can form in any profession, especially one as demanding as law enforcement. Course discussions pushed him to evaluate issues from new angles, exploring youth perceptions of law enforcement, public trust, police accountability, and more.
“Sometimes a comment would turn on a light bulb,” he said. “And I think my classmates realized we had more in common than they expected.”
Education that validates and strengthens experience
His capstone course—an immersive, scenario-based class—placed him in the unfamiliar role of a parole agent.
“It took me out of my comfort zone,” Romanchick said. “Rather than relying on what I already knew, I had to understand how others in the system work. I really enjoyed that.”
Strengthening the law enforcement pipeline through partnerships
UMGC’s work with the Pennsylvania State Police began with the university’s law enforcement track for criminal justice majors, launched in Fall 2025. Through this workforce partnership, UMGC mapped academy training and field experience to college credit, enabling officers to complete a degree more quickly.
Christopher Swain, UMGC’s portfolio director for Criminal Justice and Investigative Forensics, said that this appealed to PSP’s command staff and set the stage for a partnership. “We’re meeting officers at the intersection of training and experience and education,” said Swain. “Agencies need well-prepared professionals, and officers need transparent, attainable pathways to degrees. Our job is to build the bridge and keep strengthening it.”
Looking ahead, the partnership paves the way for UMGC to deepen existing partnerships and build new ones with agencies nationwide.
For leaders like Romanchick, the impact is clear. “As an adult learner, the program worked for me,” he said. “It challenged me and made me better. And I think it can do the same for others in law enforcement.”