Women’s History Month Spotlight: Tawana Kozlowski

March 27, 2024

Tawana Kozlowski, affectionally known as Tea, is living her childhood dream.

A Firefighter II/Paramedic at the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department, Tea grew up around the fire department. Her uncle brought her to the station, and she was immediately drawn to the big red trucks.

But life moves fast, and Tea was working as a massage therapist and gas station clerk before she knew it. It was at the gas station where she crossed paths with Deputy Chief Ross Vezin.

“I asked if they were hiring and he said, ‘Yeah, come apply!’” Tea recalls.

With a dream in her heart, some encouragement, and desire to provide a stable life for her and her daughter, Tea applied.

“It was something I always wanted to do, so I thought I might as well go for it,” Tea said. “I’m happy that I followed through on the things I had intentions for.”

Tea, a Lowcountry native, is the daughter of a schoolteacher and U.S. Navy veteran who would go on to work in the meat department. Her intrinsic desire to help others is in her DNA.

“Being able to help people has been a key factor in my life,” she stated.

There have been many learning curves for Tea during her career, but they’ve all been worth it.

“It’s taken me a long time to get here, and it does mean a lot,” Tea said when reflecting on her six years on the department. Knowing her daughter watched her to pursue her dreams, Tea recognizes the significance of women in the fire service.

“If I never saw a woman do this job, I probably wouldn’t have been as comfortable with pursuing it,” she continued, “I felt like I could do it because it had been done before and I think that is very important.”