Angela Gudeman
Forensic Interviewer
Sociology, B.A. '18
My program at Biola prepared me for my career by instilling in me a completely new understanding of how the world and society is structured and organized. The sociology program provided me with crucial insight into systems, structures, and social identities as well as giving me an understanding for how these either oppress or liberate different communities.
How did your program at Biola prepare you for your career?
My program at Biola prepared me for my career by instilling in me a completely new understanding of how the world and society is structured and organized. The sociology program provided me with crucial insight into systems, structures and social identities, as well as giving me an understanding for how these either oppress or liberate different communities. Before my current role, I worked as a caseworker in child welfare, which came after spending time working in an investigative role overseas working with child trafficking cases. For both of these roles, as well as for my current role, having a sociology degree with echoes of criminology was a perfect fit. Learning the basics of what criminality is, how our society treats it and factors leading individuals to participate in crime was important for all my different roles, and will continue to be relevant in my future roles.
What did you appreciate most about your time at Biola?
I appreciated being able to grow and develop many different sides of me, thanks to Biola's incredible professors as well as the thriving community. Certain professors and classes had life-long impacts on me, some of which revolutionized the way I think about the world and society. Biola's active campus life also allowed me to participate in extra-curricular groups, such as Residence Life, Global Student Programs and Development and Campus Safety. Aside from these, some of the most transformative relationships I've experienced started at Biola. Some of my closest and deepest friendships were made here — and there's nothing more special or rewarding than having people that you know will forever walk through life with you!
How did Biola equip you to be a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ?
One of the main reasons I chose Biola was because of the ability to have a biblical studies minor while still pursuing another degree. Looking back now, I am convinced this school was the right choice, and that I was wise to follow my gut in choosing Biola because of this opportunity. Biola's Bible classes completely transformed my relationship with Christ and my view of Jesus. Growing up as a missionary kid, I assumed I knew all there was to know about God and the Bible, but studying Jesus at Biola widened, deepened and expanded my understanding of Him in ways I didn't think were possible. I truly do not think I would know Jesus the way I do today had it not been for the Bible classes, and for several leaders at Biola who frequently helped me process my thoughts on religion and spirituality. I asked big questions about Jesus at Biola; instead of gaining all the answers, Biola helped me uncover what it means to know and walk with Jesus.
What advice would you give to students considering your degree program?
I would look to what your future goals and desired jobs are, and see if this program could be a right fit for you. Look up what kinds of jobs you would like to have in the future, and see what they are looking for in terms of college majors. This will help you narrow down what program is best for you. Other things I would highly recommend during your time of studying is to meet with a career counselor. I did this at Biola (for free!) and it helped me center what jobs I was looking to for my future. I also took advantage of Biola's free resource to help with writing resumes and cover letters. I probably had 3 or 4 sessions for this when I was applying for jobs, and it made all the difference. Finally, I would say that I can't stress enough the importance of internships and volunteer positions if you are able to do these. Even small things, or volunteering for just a few hours a week, can go a long way in terms of gaining experience and making connections.
Are there any achievements, awards or samples of your work that we can share on Biola’s website?
I worked as a caseworker for child welfare for almost two years where my role centered around investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect. For the year 2020, I was the caseworker who had worked the largest amount of child abuse/neglect investigations in Denver county (out of maybe 40-50 caseworkers). Denver is the most populated county in Colorado, meaning it has one of the highest, if not the highest, volumes of child abuse/neglect calls for the whole state.
Final Comments?
I love connecting with college students to chat about career options or what to study! I would love to make myself available to chat with anyone who is trying to figure out the right steps for them (specifically within the law enforcement or social work/social services worlds). If anyone is wanting to connect about these kinds of questions, I am available at angela.j.gudeman@biola.edu to talk further.