Esmeralda has her bachelor's  in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University and went on to earn her master's degree in Criminology, Law, & Justice from the University of Illinois.  Esmeralda always knew she wanted to have a career serving others. She started as a Bilingual Intake Coordinator in Chicago, where she worked with abused children. Then after, she was a Crisis Counselor for domestic violence in Lake County. She currently is a Community Resource Specialist in anti-human trafficking.