Gianna Kittle ’20: Putting a Name and Purpose to a Passion

Creating Community. Advocating for Justice.

Prior to coming to Emmanuel, Gianna had never heard of the field of sociology, but was very familiar and passionate about issues of crime and justice. Her time at Emmanuel helped her to not only put a name—but also, a purpose—to that passion.

The criminology & criminal justice major gained her newfound love for the study of society during her first criminology course.

“Understanding the scope of crime that happens within society is essential, but understanding why crime happens is the root of criminology and requires deep comprehension,” she said. “Although this course challenged me, it was also extremely enjoyable, and I was able to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for criminology.”

While at Emmanuel, Gianna held two internships. The first was a summer internship at the Connecticut State Police Training Academy, where she was able to observe the 128th training troop. This academic year, she interned at Community Resources for Justice (CRJ), where she worked on reentry resources for citizens returning from incarceration to the Boston area. “Both internships gave me the discipline, independence and work ethic to go into any post-grad plans with confidence,” she said.

In addition to lessons learned in coursework and internships, Gianna will take from Emmanuel many connections and communities from her co-curricular activities. “Winning this season’s conference championship in track & field with my teammates and coaches and seeing the way we uplift one another will remain one of my top Emmanuel memories,” she said. “Becoming a resident assistant and having support from other RAs and the staff who invest so much into our growth has been rewarding and meaningful. And serving as an Admissions Ambassador and getting the chance to share my Emmanuel experience has meant the world to me.”

Post-graduation, Gianna is planning to obtain her master’s degree in criminal justice, saying, “Getting the opportunity to continue carrying out my passion through continued education really excites me.”