Certification Profile: Teresa Swarczinski, MS, CPP
From a young age, Teresa Swarczinski, MS, CPP, had an interest in law enforcement. In spite of that, she started her professional life working odd jobs from manual labor to factory work before she was able shift her trajectory to her early passion in law enforcement.
Swarczinski started volunteering as a reserve law enforcement officer while also pursuing an associate degree in law enforcement from Jackson College. Swarczinski worked diligently to put herself through college, paying her own way and taking one class at a time while also volunteering. Halfway through the program, she found an opportunity for a security position at University of Michigan Medicine and took the leap to apply. She was offered the position and accepted; since then, she has never looked back from the world of security.
“It just felt right from the very start to be able to help people when they needed it,” Swarczinski says.
Swarczinski continued to work at the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety and Security (UM-DPSS), Michigan Medicine, eventually ascending to serve as associate director and senior emergency management administrator for UM-DPSS. She continues to work at UM-DPSS, now on the campus side of security, and is a program manager for infrastructure protection and assessments.
One of her career highlights was creating the Security Guest Service Specialist Program (GSS) at Michigan Medicine. The program began with just six employees and grew to more than 100 under Swarczinski’s leadership, covering several key areas including the hospital main entrances and emergency departments. The GSS is a blended model of security and guest services and was recognized by the healthcare industry as a best practice. After the program was highlighted in the Children’s Hospital Association’s magazine in 2008, several other health systems across the nation also incorporated the roles into their security programs.
In 2016, Swarczinski decided to join ASIS to help gain access to new resources and opportunities to advance her career.
“Being a member offers resources and helps me to stay on top of my career,” Swarczinski says. “There’s always something new to learn about. ASIS not only shares information but also lets you know your options to address new trends or old ones we thought were gone.”
Also in 2016, Swarczinski applied for and received the ASIS Foundation Jeff Greipp Secure Your Future Scholarship Award, which she used to obtain her Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security degree from the University of Phoenix.
While completing her master’s program, Swarczinski began the process of earning her Certified Protection Professional (CPP®) certification. She decided to earn the CPP because of its broad applicability across the security industry, which she believed would help advance and support her career.
ASIS not only shares information but also lets you know your options to address new trends or old ones we thought were gone.
Swarczinski took advantage of the ASIS Foundation’s resources for certification scholarships as well, earning awards to help pay for study materials, review sessions and the CPP exam. The Foundation scholarships and the flexibility of the CPP program allowed Swarczinski to continue her professional education without compromising in other aspects of her life and career.
“The CPP program gave me the ability to study for the exam while working full time, being a mom and attending college,” Swarczinski says. “As for the difference it's made in my career, it shows my level of dedication and expertise in the industry while also being recognized on a national and global scale.”
Swarczinski has remained an active member and volunteer with ASIS since earning her certification. She is heavily involved with the Mid-Michigan Chapter, serving as chapter chair from 2018 to 2023. Under her leadership, the chapter earned an honorable mention for the 2021 Chapter Communications Award and won the 2022 Outstanding New/Revitalized Chapter Award.
Currently, she serves as the ASIS Foundation liaison and the Women in Security liaison for the Mid-Michigan Chapter, as well as being involved with ASIS global governance. Swarczinski serves as the Region 2E Regional Vice President, on the North American Regional Board of Directors, and as the North American Regional Board Chapters Committee Vice Chair.
“One of the most meaningful aspects of my membership has been the opportunity to give back to the security industry by sharing my knowledge and experience with others through various volunteer leadership roles,” Swarczinski says. “I’ve experienced some outstanding educational opportunities and have met other security professionals that I would never have known. And lastly, I appreciate the ability to connect with the next generation of security practitioners.”
Emily Callahan is a communications specialist for ASIS International.
