Here to elevate the next generation of EMTs

Diana Lawler, a retired law enforcement officer, was a student in NWTC’s first EMT class. Now, 35 years later, she is helping prepare aspiring public safety professionals to protect and serve. 

Diana Lawler remembers the moment she realized she could become an EMT.

It was 1991, and Lawler was one of the first students of NWTC’s Emergency Medical Technician program. She was struggling with an essential part of assessing a patient’s vital signs: listening to blood pressure through a stethoscope – a method known as auscultation.

“I couldn't hear it in the stethoscope. That was brand new to me,” Lawler said. “I was really disheartened and was thinking, ‘great, you know, I'm not going to be able to be an EMT. I can't do this.’”

Instructor Roger Stanley, now retired, worked with Lawler until the skill “just clicked” for her. “It just hit, and I thought, ‘okay, I got this,’” she said. 

Fast forward 35 years, and Lawler herself is inspiring the same “I got this” moments for students in the NWTC College of Public Safety. The retired law enforcement officer now serves as an EMT teaching assistant and part-time criminal justice faculty.

She considers it an honor to work with individuals who aspire to protect and serve the region’s communities. “I figure it's my time in life to give everything I can to help students attain their dreams and goals,” she said.

“There are very few people in the world who want to run toward the blood and guts, who want to run inside of a burning building, who want to run toward the sound of gunshots. NWTC has all three of those programs here,” added Lawler. “We are building really strong, rooted people for the next generation.”

NWTC has long delivered a steady pipeline of highly skilled public safety graduates. The EMT program alone has produced more than 3,100 graduates since the program began at the College in 1991. Advanced EMT, which started at NWTC in 2002, has produced more than 450 graduates. 

Pictured above, Lawler, in her teaching assistant role, is going over the human anatomy to help prepare EMT students to take the National Registry Certification exams.

Learn more about programs in the NWTC College of Public Safety.

Driven to serve others

Lawler began teaching at NWTC in 2024, bringing into the classroom the knowledge and experience garnered from her 30-year public safety career. She spent three years as an EMT while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology at UW-Platteville. She then moved back to her hometown of Ashwaubenon for a role that fit her goals “perfectly.”

“I grew up in Ashwaubenon. I went to Ashwaubenon High School. Never did I expect to be employed for 27 years with the Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety,” said Lawler, who retired from the department in 2020. “It’s the only department in the state of Wisconsin that does all three – fire, law enforcement, and EMS. And I did that for 27 years. That was my true love. I got to do all three things.”

For the last 23 years of her career with Ashwaubenon, Lawler was an investigator for sensitive crimes such as sexual assaults, domestic violence, and elderly abuse. She felt driven by a passion to help crime victims.

“I went to work every day because I knew I could help someone on their worst day or in their worst situation,” she said. “I believe I was given these talents to serve others.”

Lawler also taught a variety of classes throughout her law enforcement career, teaching other officers and sexual assault advocates.

After she retired, Lawler took a break. She lived in South Dakota for six months, working as a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor at a YMCA.

All in the family

When she returned, she found out about EMT teaching assistant opportunities from her daughter, Samantha, who has her own history with NWTC. Samantha is a graduate of NWTC’s EMT and Paramedic programs, has worked as an EMT teaching assistant, and was recently hired by the College as an EMT instructor.

Samantha knew her mom loved to teach and let her know NWTC was looking for teaching assistants to help prepare students for the National Registry certification exams. Passing the exams is a requirement for Wisconsin EMT licensure and entrance into NWTC’s Advanced EMT and Paramedic programs.

“So that’s how I started. If it wasn’t for my oldest daughter, I wouldn’t be back here teaching, because she’s the one that opened that door for me,” said Lawler, who continued on to become part-time faculty in NWTC’s criminal justice program and is currently pursuing her EMS Instructor 2 Level, which will enable her to teach EMT classes on her own.

Now, Lawler’s other daughter, Brooke, is also pursuing a public safety career – starting her path with NWTC’s EMT program. She graduated in May and is currently applying to roles that will allow her to use her EMT license.

In spring, Brooke was in her mom’s class. Here, she is learning how to use a bag valve mask to ventilate a patient who is not breathing. 

 “I didn’t expect my daughters to follow a similar career path to me,” Lawler said. “You just want your kids to be happy. Whatever life path they choose, you want them to be happy, healthy, rooted and just flourishing.”

She is understandably proud that Samantha and Brooke have chosen to serve the public.

“Again, with law enforcement, EMS and fire, this is a small group of people,” Lawler said. “A courageous group of people who step up and say, ‘Pick me. I’ll do it. I’ll go through physical training and mental training. I’ll put myself in front of a stranger if I need to.’”

Elevating every student’s journey

Lawler said she finds joy in the experience of working with students of all ages and backgrounds at NWTC, and that motivates her every day to give them her best.

As for her students? Well, they’re noticing that joy and commitment.

In faculty feedback surveys, many of Lawler’s criminal justice students noted her passion and knowledge of the subject matter and how she brings her professional background into the classroom. “She used her real-life job experiences to give us amazing insight on law enforcement,” one student wrote.

Other students have highlighted her engaging, supportive approach, remarking that she is always available to answer questions, provides feedback to every student, and “genuinely cares.”

Lawler is looking forward to teaching for years to come.

“My husband says, ‘You’re retired. You don’t have to do this.’ I said, ‘No, but I want to,' and that’s the difference.”

“I’m just so grateful I can be a really small part of our students’ journey,” Lawler added. “If I can help them accomplish any of their goals, to me, that's what it's all about.”