Virginia, a retired public safety professional, returns to college after 25 years to pursue her dream of a communications degree, proving that career reinvention and education are possible at any age.
Her Story
About Virginia
Virginia Ordaz spent nearly a quarter-century in public safety, retiring in 2024 as Senior Supervisor from Stockton Fire Dispatch after a career that spanned emergency communications for multiple San Joaquin County agencies, including Stockton, Lodi, Tracy, Manteca, and Lathrop. Over the course of her service, she built expertise in high-volume, county-wide dispatch operations, earning credentials as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher through NAED along with certifications in Incident Command Dispatching, POST, and CPR. Her steady rise into a supervisory role reflected two decades of dedication to fire and EMS response during some of the region's most demanding emergencies.
After stepping away from her career, Ordaz returned to a goal she had set aside decades earlier: finishing her college education. Prompted by her son's encouragement and supported by guidance from a VA counselor, she completed her Associate of Arts degree in Communication and Media Studies at San Joaquin Delta College, walking across the graduation stage alongside her 80-year-old mother, who earned her own degree in the same ceremony. The milestone drew local media attention under the message "education has no expiration," and Ordaz was further honored as the school's Asian American/Pacific Islander student speaker. She has since continued her academic journey online at San Diego State University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in the same field with an eye toward television media, sports broadcasting, and public affairs.
Today, Ordaz channels her experience into advocacy for first responder mental health, drawing on what she witnessed firsthand among colleagues who struggled with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and, in some cases, alcoholism or suicide after leaving the field. She speaks candidly about the importance of caring for one's mind, leaning on family, and confronting workplace stigma rather than staying silent. Recognized among Influential Women representing Stockton, California for 2026, she now uses her platform to encourage other first responders, especially women in male-dominated fields, to prioritize their wellbeing, pursue lifelong learning, and push for kinder, more supportive workplace cultures.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Virginia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, persistence, and the support of my family. Returning to education later in life pushed me to work intensely to complete my needed coursework for my degree and graduate alongside my 80 year old mother.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received was from my son, who encouraged me to go back to school. A VA counselor also gave me practical guidance on completing my remaining units, which helped me finish my AA degree.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to take care of their mental health and to speak openly about their feelings rather than bottling them up. I also urge them to pursue education at any stage of life and to advocate for greater representation of women in male-dominated fields, while fostering more sensitivity and kindness within their workplaces.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field are the stigma surrounding mental health care for first responders, workplace bullying, and chronic understaffing during critical fire seasons. At the same time, I see real opportunity in the growing public awareness of first-responder mental health, and I want to use my platform to increase visibility and connect people with specialized support.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
God is the most important value in my life along with family. Mental health and education are also values that matter to me in both work and personal life. Taking care of my mind and prioritizing my family have guided me through both my career and my return to school.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Virginia
Education has no expiration
From Public Safety to Broadcasting: One Woman's Journey Back to College
After retiring from a 25-year career in public safety, Virginia wanted to go back to school to finish what she had started many years ago. A degree would open more doors as she launched the next chapter of her life and embarked on a whole new career.
She initially enrolled at Delta College after high school in 1989, but she wasn't quite ready to commit and eventually dropped out to work full-time. Soon, she was married, starting a family, and fully immersed in her career as a Stockton Fire Department dispatcher. In 2018, she was promoted to supervisor and served in that position until her retirement in 2024.
She decided to go back to college in 2025 and worked hard to complete her AA a year later. She was then accepted to San Diego State University through its online campus. Her major is communications, with a specialty in media, as she hopes to find a job in broadcasting.
Women of all ages can make a difference in any career, and Virginia wants to prove that a woman in her menopausal years can still be motivated to start Chapter 2.
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