Finding community, connection and a career path at Durham College

Jazmyn Romano’s time as a student at Durham College (DC) was meaningful both personally and professionally.

A two-time DC graduate who grew up in Bowmanville, she completed the Paralegal program in 2024 and Law Clerk – Advanced in 2025.

Now she’s found her way back to DC as a new member of the Durham College Alumni Association (DCAA) Board of Directors.

“I thought that once I graduated, my time at DC was done,” she said. “But it’s great to be able to get involved as an alumnus. I had a great experience here, and it’s nice to have the opportunity to give back to a campus that gave so much to me.”

The education she received at DC started her down the path towards a career in law, and her schooling has continued remotely as she works towards an international law degree at the University of London.

“I have an interest in justice because it’s an area where you have the ability to help people and make actionable change,” said Romano.

She’s already been able to make use of some of the lessons she learned in her DC programs. During her studies, she launched her own successful company – Romano Remote Virtual Assistant Services – providing business process outsourcing for a number of clients. Its success has kept her busy since she crossed the stage at Convocation.

“The bulk of my clients are realtors, and I studied real estate law in the Law Clerk program,” she explained. “That was a good foundation in figuring out the real estate market, how to work with realtors, and especially drafting the various forms that are needed.”

But her most valuable time at DC may have been the hours she spent at the First Peoples Indigenous Centre (FPIC), in the company of Dr. Kayla Murphy, Director, Indigenous Initiatives.

“My family is Métis. My grandma was adopted, so there’s a little bit of an intergenerational disconnect there. Going into college, I had a hard time with my own identity,” said Romano. “With my upbringing and that disconnect in mind, and because I look European, my connection to my Indigenous identity has sometimes felt complicated. My lived experiences are different from those of many other Indigenous people, and I acknowledge that. In turn, sometimes it’s a little difficult to connect with other people in the Indigenous community.”

Through discussions with Dr. Murphy, and simply spending time in the friendly confines of FPIC, she developed a new understanding of her Indigenous background.

“She taught me a lot. Through talking with Kayla and learning from her, it definitely helped me feel like I belong.”

She’ll continue to embrace her Indigeneity by attending events like DC’s Orange Shirt Day Mini Powwow on Wednesday, September 30, where the campus community will gather in recognition of the day as well as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. And in her role with the DCAA, she will stay connected to her post-secondary home and serve as a voice for her fellow alumni.

“I’m excited to see where it goes, and how I can help.”