Interested in a career in emergency management, Viterbo University student Elyse Ramseier made it a goal to learn about each of the different aspects of the profession. A summer internship with the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department is helping her accomplish it.

Ramseier is getting hands on experience throughout the department in an internship that began May 12 and ends Aug. 15. She has observed and assisted in the jail with booking inmates, taking mugshots, pod searches for contraband, and doing paperwork for dispatch. Upcoming weeks will focus on “ride alongs” with deputies, boat patrol on the Mississippi River, trying her hand at the firing range, investigations, learning about the circuit court system, and county emergency management.

“I’m gaining great experience that will help me in my career,” said Ramseier, a community and criminal justice major who will begin her senior year at Viterbo in the fall. “In emergency management I will be working with law enforcement, so I want to know how everything works. The culture in the department is excellent and I feel very welcome. It’s a tight knit group and everyone communicates with each other.”

Ramseier has always been interested in the field of criminal justice, but did not want to become a law enforcement officer. She spoke to a Viterbo faculty member, who upon learning Ramseier also liked business, recommended emergency management. Ramseier researched the profession and discovered it was a great fit.

“I would eventually like to work in a corporate setting or hospital,” said Ramseier, who received her first sample of emergency related work by serving six years as a lifeguard at the Dahl Family YMCA in her hometown of La Crosse.

Often in Vernon County to spend time with friends, Ramseier met Sheriff Roy Torgerson at a community event. The two briefly discussed an internship, which she was offered at the end of a subsequent online interview. Ramseier helped planned the itinerary and learning outcomes to receive academic credit for the internship.

After earning an undergraduate degree in community and criminal justice in May 2026, Ramseier will return to Viterbo for a fifth year to earn a Master of Business Administration as part of the university’s 4+1 MBA program. From the dedicated professors, to the university’s Franciscan values, to her love of her hometown, Ramseier is very happy with her choice to attend Viterbo and her chosen career path.

“I have always wanted to help people, and I have a knack for being aware of my surroundings and potential dangers, and keeping people safe in the process,” Ramseier said. “Being able to put those together and keep people as safe as possible in an emergency is very rewarding.”

Explore the Program

Discover how Viterbo’s criminal and community justice program prepares you to make a meaningful impact through careers in law enforcement, corrections, victim advocacy, and more—all grounded in ethics, service, and social responsibility.