Challenging Norms, Defying Expectations

From a childhood of volunteer service to dreams of protecting and serving, Zeel Mody ’26 has always embraced the unexpected. At Elmhurst University, that guiding principle has put her on a path that is uniquely her own—and uniquely Elmhurst.

Mody, a senior majoring in criminal justice with minors in psychology and business administration, plans to enter law enforcement after graduating. It’s a career she called an “out-of-the-box” choice in her South Asian culture, but one conversation with her parents emboldened her to pursue it.

“I tried navigating the STEM route and medical field, and I knew that it wasn’t for me,” said Mody, who grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois, but calls Streamwood home nowadays. “So I spoke with my parents. I was like, ‘Law enforcement was something I’ve always been interested in,’ and they’re like, ‘Yeah, just go for it.’”

Mody is building her experience year by year, class by class, club by club—it’s a personal, growth-minded path that will enable her to develop into an adaptive leader and reach her goals.

She’s going for it—and then some—at Elmhurst.

Building a Foundation of Public Service

When she was growing up, Mody was drawn to service. She often spent time helping others when she could have been doing the things children are typically doing.

“A lot of people are like, ‘Oh, I just volunteered because I have to,’ but I did it because I wanted to,” she said.

During those childhood years, Mody also developed an admiration for first responders and public servants.

“I would see the firefighters and police officers on the road and the red and blue lights, and I was like, ‘I want to do that when I grow up because I respect what they do,’” Mody said.

It wasn’t long before she joined the Des Plaines Police Law Enforcement Explorer Program to test her interest in the field. More recently, Mody had internships with the police departments in Addison and Naperville. She did ride-alongs with officers, filled out accident reports, looked up license plates, trained for various scenarios, used the police radio, learned how to use firearms, and generally experienced what a career in law enforcement offers. She even got to drive a police cruiser under controlled conditions and operate those red-and-blue lights that caught her eye as a child.

Those experiences solidified her choice. At Elmhurst, Mody is building on that foundation and preparing for the challenges of public service and leadership in communities.

Finding Community and Nurturing Passions

Like her choice to pursue law enforcement, Mody knew exactly what she wanted out of her college experience. She just didn’t know she would find it at Elmhurst University.

“I didn’t want to go to a big school. My sister went to a big school, and her experience wasn’t the best, from what I heard,” Mody said. “Elmhurst, surprisingly, was the last school I applied to because I was like, ‘Why not?’ … It’s the school that I chose because everyone was really welcoming when I toured. Everyone was just sweet, welcoming.”

Elmhurst’s emphasis on supporting commuters and getting them involved in campus life—a significant factor for Mody, who has commuted all four years—sealed her decision. “From there I knew that it just felt like home,” she said.

True to that promise, Mody has become deeply involved at Elmhurst. It all started sophomore year when she joined the Union Board, a student programming body that plans events on and off campus.

“My first year was a little tough because I didn’t know anyone, so I would just go to school and go home,” said Mody, who qualified for a Presidential Scholarship when she applied to Elmhurst. “Then, sophomore year I met a bunch of people because I met a girl through the Union Board. Through her I met everyone else, like her friends. She just in a way pulled me into her friend group, and everyone welcomed me in with open arms. … I found my people in that group.”

She’s been festival chair, vice president and president of the Union Board. She also was parliamentarian of the Student Government Association, treasurer of the Art Club, and co-founder and co-president of the Karaoke Club. Her involvement earned her two Student Leadership Awards: Union Board recognition and Shining Star.

Mody also is a member of the women’s wrestling team — another unexpected choice she embraced. Even though she had never wrestled before, Mody wanted experience in a combat sport to supplement her law enforcement and criminal justice training. She spoke with coach Andrew Demos about joining without experience, and discovered it wouldn’t be a problem.

“So I jumped right into it,” Mody said. “They were all supportive, helping me learn—and I joined late too. Preseason started right when school started last fall (2024), and so I joined like a week into the season. … I picked up things really quick. It was a tough season because I haven’t wrestled before, and I go up against people who are experienced, but it is a good learning experience.”

The competitive athletic experience, as well as her involvement in campus clubs and organizations, have nurtured Mody’s leadership and teamwork skills, and are preparing her to thrive in public service or whatever she chooses to do next.

From the Classroom to the Police Beat

In the classroom, Mody is learning fundamental lessons and skills for enduring success in her law enforcement career, but she’s also learning how to ask for help and seek support when needed. She praised professors Tyler Fagan, Emily Navarro and Tracy Crump for instilling those lessons.

“They are supportive, sweet, but also understood what it is to be a student because they weren’t always strict on academics,” Mody said. “They understood that you have a life out of school, and they were supportive of that. I can go to them and ask for extensions if I need to or extra support.”

Mody has thrived academically, qualifying for Alpha Phi Sigma, the honor society for criminal justice.

When she graduates, Mody plans to join a suburban police department and find a unit she’s interested in, such as a K9 or major crimes. Beyond that, she has a much more ambitious goal.

“I’m very passionate about bringing advocacy to domestic violence and especially crimes against children because it is such an important field,” she said. Eventually, she hopes to pursue that at the federal level, whether it’s with the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI or Homeland Security Investigations.

Embracing the Elmhurst Experience

It would come as no surprise that Mody’s advice for students considering Elmhurst University is to “go for what you want.”

“Make the choice for yourself and not what other people are saying to make,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to know what you want, and if Elmhurst is the school for you, go for it.”

Above all else, Mody emphasized the importance of getting involved in interest-based organizations and events, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone — a lesson she learned herself.

“Don’t be afraid to do things on your own,” she said. “You’ll meet more people there, and you’ll meet new friends — and more friends — who have the same interests as you.”

Mody’s experience at Elmhurst is a testament to the rewards of following a personalized, growth-minded path — in and out of the classroom.

Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step toward your future.