“Seeking and receiving professional help through FSU’s health services facilitated my healing and transformed my understanding of strength and leadership.”
Fast Facts
- Favorite song: “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra
- Musician: Played alto saxophone for the Marching Chiefs
- Hard-Worker: Maintains three jobs while being a full-time student
- Gamer: Holds the highest score on three different Mrs. Pacman arcade machines
- Italian American: Used her foreign language requirement to brush up on Italian
Amber Losciale is a first-generation college student dedicated to fostering safe and comfortable communities while pursuing ambitious research projects.
Losciale is a data scientist at the Leon County Sherrif’s Office (LCSO) where she helps protect the safety of Tallahassee. She has previously held positions shadowing the Wildwood Police Department (WPD) and as a crime analyst at the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD).
As a part of the Honors in the Major program (HITM), she is conducting research on the sociodemographic characteristics of sex offenders online in comparison to offline. She presented this research at the American Criminal Justice Association National Conference, where she received third place in human trafficking academic testing.
Why did you choose to attend Florida State University?
As a first-generation student I was fixated on making it out of my hometown and being able to attend university. I am grateful that I managed to become the first in my family to go to college and pick the perfect place for me when choosing FSU.
To say I love being here is an understatement; this place is my home. I am incredibly fortunate to be a cyber criminology major at one of the top criminology programs in the world. The professors in my field are not only excellent mentors but kind individuals whom I have had the opportunity to both learn from and work with.
FSU also aligns with my passions. I was a band kid in high school, so I gravitated to the Marching Chiefs which gave me the chance to travel and make memories. I live in Traditions Hall, where I am close to the music, the school spirit and the energy that emanates from Doak Campbell Stadium. I am grateful every day I chose to be here!
What has been your most valuable academic experience?
I believe my most significant academic research accomplishment is my Honors in the Major thesis, Unpacking the Profiles of Online Sex Offenders. This research project will examine the sociodemographic characteristics that contribute to online and offline sexual exploitation and then develop typologies based on this data.
I attended the American Criminal Justice Association National Conference in Long Beach, California, where I represented FSU on the national stage in front of several criminology professors and practicing law enforcement officers. This was my first time presenting my HITM research. I got to engage in discussions about the implications of my research on policy and received 3rd place in Human Trafficking academic testing, competing out of more than 200 attendees from across the country.
Associate Professor Sylwia Piatkowska, my faculty adviser, has told me that my work has potential for publication in an academic journal, and I will work to see that through. I already see so much potential and am overjoyed to have another year to establish my legacy at FSU.
She has been instrumental in my success; without her, I would not have been able to bring these ideas to fruition. She has been an excellent mentor, and I feel like I have been able to develop so much as a leader under her tutelage.
How have you helped your community as a leader?
About halfway through college, I reached the lowest point of my life because of victimization. It shattered my sense of self, strained my ability to function and left me feeling like a statistic rather than a person. Seeking and receiving professional help through FSU’s health services facilitated my healing and transformed my understanding of strength and leadership.
This shaped how I lead and serve within my communities. As I recovered, others turned to me for guidance in navigating their mental health challenges. I helped those around me find the resources they needed. This experience has fueled my passion for cultivating safe, supportive environments within my organizations. By promoting open conversations about mental health and reinforcing the importance of vulnerability, I strive to be a leader who uplifts others and creates space for healing and growth.
What has been your most significant impact on the community?
As a cyber criminology student, I obtained firsthand experience in my field through FSUshadow at the Wildwood Police Department, where I observed detectives lure predators through DNS lookups and decoy communications. I later began a crime analyst position at the Tallahassee Police Department, where I solved inactive cases and linked other offenders to their affiliations and associates.
These experiences have helped me become a data scientist at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the most fulfilling role I have held to date. My supervisor and mentor is Dixie Rocker, a former FSU College of Criminology professor. She has helped me to build skills and create positive change. The data and policy decisions I am reviewing impact the people of Tallahassee. I am a part of a team that maintains the operational pursuits of LCSO. Knowing that my work contributes to and elicits real change is satisfying.