vitalalumni Speaker Series
In keeping with the purpose and intent of our vitalvoices series that brings professionals in the fields of Criminal justice, Social Work and Urban Education to campus to share the relevance of their professional experience and current work, The Center for Public Service and Community Research created vitalalumni.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
vitalalumni bring CPS graduates back to campus to share their professional as well
as personal experience of life pre UHD, at UHD and post UHD. Our alumni share their
life stories: the good, the bad, the difficult, the highs, the lows, the challenges
and the victories. Through candid conversation, stories are shared with the purpose
of encouraging students to complete their studies; to know there is light at the end
of the tunnel! Alumni will discuss their careers, including previous positions that
led them to their current employment and what may be next on the horizon. Current
students will experience first-hand how others who have gone before them succeeded
under similar and sometimes even more difficult circumstances than their own. It is
our hope the sharing of these stories will challenge current students to cross the
finish line, believing that they too can achieve their dreams and aspirations. Our
alumni like to say, "If I can do it, so can you!"
April 1, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Commerce Street Building in room C-100 and Via Zoom
Panel Speakers
All of the following received their bachelor’s from UHD’s Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work
- Kathryn Guthrie, 2019, BS CJ
- Gerren Lacy, 2014, BS CJ, MS CJ, 2021
- Diane Medina, 2011, MS CJ
- Casey Nelms, 2020, BS CJ, 2021, MS CJ
Speaker Bios
Kathryn Guthrie, 2019, BS CJ
Coming soon...
Gerren Lacy, 2014 BS CJ, 2021 MS CJ
Gerren was born in a small town in La Marque, moved to Houston in 1999 and grew up in Alief. He is the middle child of six children (three sisters and two brothers. Out of 20 plus cousins, he was the only one to go and finish college. Currently Gerren works with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office where he is involved in protecting citizens, maintaining order, and enforcing laws through duties like patrolling, responding to emergencies, conducting investigations, and making arrests.
Gerren has a 6-year-old daughter who’s going on 25! He loves roller skating and has been doing so for 25 years. He’s also a cyclist and tennis player. He participated in the UHD tennis intermural tennis tournament and won during his undergraduate studies. Prior to law enforcement, he worked for 8 years at HEB. He is a God fearing man gives Him all the glory for all the things He has done in his life.
Diane Medina, 2011 MS CJ
Born in Chicago Illinois but my parents did the right things and raised us in Texas. I received a BACJ from Sam Houston State University and obtained my Masters of Science at UHD. I am a Crime Scene/Latent Print Examiner with a total of 26+ years of law enforcement experience. Currently I hold a Master Peace Officer License and an Instructor License from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). I love traveling, movies, music, hiking, playing softball and racquetball. I have a shorthair German pointer named Awty who would say I’m a pretty good mom. I enjoy the career I have chosen and will always be grateful to all those who helped me along the way.
Casey Garcia, 2020 BS CJ , 2021 MS CJ
Casey is a proud graduate from the UHD College of Public Service where she obtained
both of her professional degrees. In 2022, she was recognized with the "Outstanding
M.S. in Criminal Justice Student" award for her original thesis, which focused on
trauma frequency among women with substance abuse disorders who are involved in the
criminal justice system. Casey remains fervent in her mission of helping individuals
recover from trauma and substance abuse disorders through behavior modification. Currently
in her fifth year, she works part-time as a psychiatric social worker inside the Brazoria
County Jail. In addition, Casey is in her 3rd year of her full-time job at CATS Academy,
Angleton ISD's alternative education program, where she teaches social-emotional learning
to students involved in the juvenile justice system. She was recently recognized for
her potential in campus leadership and was admitted to the "Aspiring Administrators"
program, where she will receive vital training for her upcoming enrollment in a principal
certification program.
A resident of southern Brazoria County, Casey is 41 years young. She is gratefully
married to her supportive husband, Johnny, and together they have one son, "Little"
John. Outside of her professional life, Casey enjoys traveling often and is an avid
gym-goer and runner. As a voice of recovery, Casey is 13 years free from substance
abuse which is paramount in her service to others. She believes if she can save one
life, then her entire journey will have been worth it.
For further information contact Steven Villano, director of the Center for Public Service and Community Research at villanos@uhd.edu.