After settling back into familiar surroundings, Ortiz had to make some major life changes following a brief period of incarceration. Opportunities for individuals who have been incarcerated and have felony convictions on their records are few and far between. Having a college degree dramatically increases a person’s chance for success, so Ortiz began taking classes at Aims Community College. She earned an associate degree and then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). Located in the center of town, UNC was an obvious choice for Ortiz when it came to pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.