Michelle Soria, Assistant Professor, Administration of Justice Palomar College

My career in law enforcement began in 1996 with the San Diego Police Department. After graduating from the 35th San Diego Regional Police Academy, I served as a patrol officer across some of San Diego’s most diverse communities. After nine years on patrol, I was promoted to Detective, specializing in Juvenile Services, Financial Crimes, and Sex Crimes, before spending 5 ½ years in Homicide.

I later advanced to Sergeant, working in Patrol, Internal Affairs, and Homicide, and was ultimately promoted to Lieutenant, overseeing Homicide investigations and managing a busy patrol division until my retirement in November 2021 after 26 years of service.

Following retirement, I transitioned into academia, spending 1 ½ years as a full-time Assistant Professor of Administration of Justice at Imperial Valley College (IVC) in El Centro, where I also served as the POST Coordinator for the IVC Law Enforcement Academy. Now, I am thrilled to begin my second year at Palomar College, helping to prepare the next generation of criminal justice professionals.

Education & Professional Development

· Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice

· Master’s Degree in Forensic Science

· Doctorate in Criminal Justice, with an emphasis on Organizational Leadership

Personal & Professional Interests

Outside of my career, I have been happily married for over 36 years. My husband, a retired police officer with a 30-year law enforcement career, is now a Doctor of Clinical Psychology. Our family is deeply rooted in public service:

· Our son is a Chief in the Navy Reserve and supervises Parking Enforcement Officers at San Diego International Airport. He lives with his wife and their two young sons.

· Our daughter is a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner specializing in women’s health in New York, where she lives with her three-year-old son.

I currently live in Chula Vista and enjoy listening to my extensive audiobook collection during my commute to Palomar College. In my free time, I love outdoor activities, golfing, swimming, running, and walking my dogs. I also stay actively engaged in criminal justice trends and developments.

Let’s Connect!

I look forward to working with you and supporting your educational journey in Administration of Justice! If you need to reach me, feel free to contact me at:

Email: MSoria@Palomar.edu

Note: I recently changed my last name to Soria—if you’re searching for my law enforcement career background, I was previously known as Michelle Velovich during my time at San Diego Police Department.

I’m excited to be part of the Palomar College community and look forward to guiding students on their path to success in the criminal justice field!