Her Story
About Cozette
Cozette Zimmerman serves as a crime scene specialist in forensic science for the City of Indianapolis, a role she has held for almost two years on the night shift. Her background includes prior experience as an engineer and in other fields before returning to college in her mid-20s to pursue forensic science, inspired by crime-solving television shows. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Elizabethtown College in 2015, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Clarkson University in 2017, and a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science from West Virginia University in 2023. Zimmerman is a member of the Order of the Engineer, which she joined upon her 2015 graduation. She emphasizes the importance of being willing to learn and ask questions while remaining humble, and she values respect, trust, and open-mindedness in her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cozette
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to always being willing to learn and willing to fail. It took a long time but I am not ok with being wrong and with being incorrect
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Always be willing to learn and ask questions. It is hard when you're younger and you don't want to look stupid. But you don't know until you know. And then, another one is to always be humble. You are not the smartest person in the room, you are usually the newest, and other people know so much more than you. Those two will get you very far in your career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
for young women, just talk to anyone and everyone. Someone always knows someone who could help you on your next career path
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
You never really know what your day is gonna be like. Another is just resources and budget, and with TV shows, people expect that we can do a lot more, but there are limited patients, financially, and what technology has gotten up to with its abilities currently, which is an unfortunate bias to have to fight when you go to court.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect, because we never really know what we're going into. We are the last responders. Trust, because we are civilians and not armed so we have to trust the police officers on scene to protect us. Open-minded, because no two scenes are the same.
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