A Gesture of Support

Officer Samantha Delduca of East Tennessee State University’s Department of Public Safety says these words have been a powerful influence on her drive to prove herself and to serve her community. She wants others to understand the truth of those words as she does herself.

Officer Delduca came to ETSU in 2022 after a long and winding road. After graduating high school in 2010, Delduca earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Chaminade University of Honolulu, then a master’s degree in cybersecurity at George Washington University. Next, she joined the Marines as a reservist, before entering her current position with Public Safety.

“I heard a lot about ETSU’s police department,” said Delduca, “about where they want to go. They’re huge on community policing – and, to me, if you’re going to be a police officer, the best thing to do is get involved in your community.”

Delduca became concerned about the need for better relationships with police after witnessing several interactions that she felt should have been handled better. As she put it: “I never liked being in a vulnerable position, and when I was, I always thought, ‘I wish I had somebody.’ I think that was the biggest reason that I wanted to do this.”

One of the reasons Delduca is so intent on making others feel safe, comfortable and accepted is because she knows what it feels like to lack such support. She recalled a fourth-grade teacher who recognized that the young Delduca was having a rough time in her home life. That teacher helped to keep her grounded with – of all things – unique math lessons for the inquisitive girl.

It took a long journey full of challenges for Officer Delduca to learn the wisdom of her favorite Eleanor Roosevelt quote. Through her work – with ETSU, the Marine Corps and as a cybersecurity advocate – she hopes to exemplify the same wisdom for her community. Her goal is not to shield them from adversity, but to support them in vulnerability.