NVC Grad Serves Community Through Criminal Justice Career, Alumni Board

Cortney Nious first became interested in the field of criminal justice while a student at Northwest Vista College. Nious, who earned an Associate of Arts (Criminal Justice) from NVC in 2017, credits his experiences inside and outside of the classroom with helping him discover the career path he should follow. Learning about the hardships and real-world issues of fellow students — including some whose parents were incarcerated — had a profound impact on him and were key to confirming that a career in criminal justice was the right choice.

Nious lauds NVC for having what he describes as a melting pot of diverse backgrounds with classes comprised of the perfect student-to-professor ratio. “The professors I had did an amazing job breaking down and assessing the coursework in criminal justice,” he said. “This sparked my interest when I learned the framework and operation of corrections, the court system, and law enforcement.” For Nious, mastering every aspect of the justice system was crucial to his mission of helping people who lack the resources or knowledge to navigate it.

After graduating from NVC, he transferred to UT San Antonio, where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2020. He’s now pursuing a master's in criminal justice through an online program with the University of Arizona Global Campus. He also works as a case management specialist for Bexar County Adult Probation, where he supervises both misdemeanor and felony cases.

“As these cases are supervised for termed periods, I am able to help rebuild lives, reduce incarceration rates, connect probationers to resources, reinforce accountability, and most importantly, support a safe environment for Bexar County residents!”

When he’s not working for the county, Nious enjoys serving on NVC’s Alumni Board of Directors and has been the historian since 2022. He said what he likes most about being on the board is seeing the positive impact it has on students, particularly through providing scholarships.

“The board has provided numerous scholarships that go directly to (easing) the financial strain that many students face while looking to achieve higher education,” Nious added. “I also love the connections I am able to make! From the amazing faculty, staff, and student body, it has been amazing interacting, laughing, and creating partnerships for the advancement of the NVC community.”