Senior Success: Kristen Mogerman Lands Fiserv Role After Internship with DOJ's Violent Crime Squad

Like any talented forensic science student would, Kristen Mogerman ’23 has been using her sharp analytical skills to unlock one opportunity after the next — from an internship with the U.S. Department of Justice assisting its regional violent crime squad, to her post-graduation destination as a credit and risk analyst with Fiserv.

Mogerman has wrapped up a unique internship experience during commencement week. When she wasn’t in NJIT classrooms and forensics labs her senior year, she’s been stationed with a Newark-based task force working on federal criminal cases.

It’s a dream opportunity for some of the most highly credentialed forensics majors and aspiring law enforcement professionals in the country, and often, they don’t make the cut.

Mogerman has been part of an exclusive group of students nationwide assisting the DOJ on violent crime cases — of more than 10,500 that applied for its federal “Honors Intern” program across the U.S. last year, only 680 were accepted.

“I was actually on vacation at Disneyland when I got the call … they told me only about six percent of us got accepted,” said Mogerman, a Saddle Brook, N.J. native who is graduating magna cum laude. “Growing up, I knew I wanted to do something criminal justice related. … It was such an exciting moment in my life.”

Mogerman credits the guidance of NJIT Forensic Science Professor of Practice, and former investigator with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, Kevin Parmelee.

“I was in his class last year when I applied for the position, and from that point professor Parmelee was constantly there to help me as I was moving through that incredibly selective process … I believe he really helped me prepare and do well on my initial interview.”

Alongside a tight-knit team of 15 field agents and analysts, Mogerman was involved in piecing together evidence on armed robberies and sexual assaults among other violent crimes cases.

Mogerman says that many cases she helped investigate took place outside of local law enforcement’s jurisdiction, including crimes on cruise ships, airlines and in the region’s ports.

“As interns, we couldn’t be put in harm’s way in the field, so I would help process fingerprints, photographs and other evidence on suspects, and register information into the federal database,” said Mogerman.

“I often oversaw making presentations to organize all the evidence, and helped process suspects after they were arrested. My forensics background helped me a lot in terms of being familiar with things like how evidence is handled through chain of custody, collecting evidence to build a case, and the lab work behind it all.”

Now, Mogerman says she’s landed a role as a credit and risk analyst with Fiserv, where she’ll continue to put her talents to use investigating cases involving credit fraud.

“I’m excited. If you do good work, this is a place where you can grow and hopefully take on leadership roles, generally pretty quickly,” said Mogerman. “Working as a fraud and risk analyst has investigative aspects to it that fit my background. …  In some fraud cases, we’ll even work with federal agents.”

“Looking back at my time at NJIT is always going to remind me that I can flourish in anything that I'm determined to achieve,” Mogerman added. “I also have great mentors, such as professors Parmelee and David Fisher, who I know I can turn to for advice in my career. It’s great knowing I have those connections.”