Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
This law officer made history in Jefferson County—learn how one critical step helped
Reading time: 4 minutes
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The first female deputy chief in the 200-year-plus history of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Felicia Rucker-Sumerlin made history more than once during her career as a law officer.
After starting her law enforcement career at the county jail in 1990, she is proud of her years spent working her way through the ranks, fueled by lifelong values of determination and perseverance. Now retired, she points to one major decision that catalyzed her career success—earning a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University in 2011.
Read on to learn more about Rucker-Sumerlin’s story and get details about the many flexible degree programs of this Alabama-based online university.
From serving tables to serving + protecting
At age 24, Rucker-Sumerlin was a single mother of two, waiting tables locally and helping to care for her ailing grandmother, with whom she lived. One day after work, she went straight to the county’s personnel board, seeking career opportunities and a new trajectory.
“My family was the type that, no matter how hard it became, their question for me would always be ‘How are you going to change this?’ There was no room for excuses and no ‘woe is me’ [mentality].”
Felicia Rucker-Sumerlin
A few months later, her applications were approved to begin her career with JCSO, at first in the jail. Rucker-Sumerlin advanced to patrol, then worked as a school resource officer and in criminal cases, including crimes against persons, property, financial and narcotics.
Along the way, she became:
- 2nd Black female CSO lieutenant in 2008
- 1st Black woman and third woman ever to become a JCSO captain in 2016
- 1st female deputy chief in JCSO history in 2020
The difference-making degree
While Rucker-Sumerlin acknowledges the significance of these milestones, she adds that they underscore her fundamental motivation to work hard and earn every achievement. As she rose in the department, she identified critical requirements to set and reach new goals.
Even with many years of experience, she knew that being considered for higher ranks required a degree in criminal justice. That is when she discovered CSU, an Alabama-based online university offering the flexibility and affordability she needed to earn a degree while continuing her full-time work:
“I was finally able to start working on my degree after 17 years in my career. Had anyone ever told me I’d have a degree, I would have laughed, because life never gave me the time I needed to further educate myself. Having attended CSU made me a viable candidate for a position that I would have been overlooked for.”
Rucker-Sumerlin offers clear and direct advice to anyone considering a different path:
“Never give up on you. A degree can change the rest of your life.”
Curious about CSU?
While Rucker-Sumerlin’s story is exceptional, student success is the whole point for CSU, which has served over 80,000 students since its founding in 1993.
Here’s a snapshot of why it works so well for adult learners looking to scale the next level or pivot their careers:
- 100% online, so students can study from anywhere on their own schedules
- Zero textbook costs, with all required materials included in tuition
- 120+ degree programs across high-demand fields, from criminal justice and nursing to business and cyber security
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth. Testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
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