“My partner hoisted me through an open window,” Cervantez says. “And thankfully, because it was a gym, I fell onto a padded mat on the other side! It turns out the maintenance staff had simply left the lights on, which was a relief, because you don’t always know what to expect on a college campus overnight.” 

From securing buildings to responding to the most serious of incidents on campus, Cervantez has handled thousands of reports and calls during her 42 years protecting DePaul. The Chicago native’s love for the university, however, began well before her time as an employee. 

“Growing up, my family lived in an apartment right where Oz Park sits,” Cervantez says. “I went to grade and high school in the area, and my dad worked at DePaul. My sister and I would run through campus buildings as kids and actually get kicked out by security! So, DePaul has always been my home.” 

After earning a degree in criminology from Northern Illinois University, Cervantez intended to work for the Chicago Police Department. Her father suggested she look for a job at DePaul while waiting for a spot with CPD, and the rest is history. 

In her four decades at DePaul, Cervantez witnessed and helped protect the expansion of the university. From the demolition of buildings, such as Hayes-Healy Athletic Center, to the reconstruction of facilities like the Holtschneider Performance Center, Cervantez notes contributing to DePaul’s growth is one of her proudest achievements. 

“We were once the little school under the L. I saw that version of the school. I was here,” she says. “To witness physical demolition and construction, to see the growth of the student body and the university’s academic offerings, to see us grow out of being that ‘little school,’ is awesome. My own children went to school here and are now successful first responders. I will be forever grateful to DePaul for everything it has given me.” 

Cervantez retired from DePaul in early February. Her next chapter includes helping to care for her grandchildren and continuing to cook for the people she loves.