Abby Yerrington ’21 M’26 | Criminal Justice Major | Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Don’t give up on something just because you think it’s going to be hard.
Arriving on the Hilltop as a business major, Abby quickly realized the world of business wasn’t for her. Inspired by her family’s positive experience in the criminal justice program, she decided to follow in their footsteps and pursue a criminal justice degree.
Why did you choose to major in criminal justice as an undergraduate?
I was not a criminal justice major at first; I was a business major, which I quickly realized was not the path for me. My dad, mom, and brother all graduated from Saint Anselm with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, so I wanted to try a different path, and never really considered criminal justice at all. However, after my first year at Saint A's, I switched majors to criminal justice because I knew my family members had an enriching experience. I took an entire semester over the summer before starting my second year. I absolutely fell in love with the program. I honestly couldn't get enough of it. I flew through the program at Saint A's and ended up graduating an entire year early because I truly loved learning about everything there was to know about criminal justice.
What has been your favorite graduate course thus far? Why?
Actually, my first class, the Victimization Seminar with Professor Kaitlyn Clarke, was my favorite because it’s probably my favorite topic in criminal justice. I am fascinated about how victims are victims, and why and what led them to be victims—that kind of stuff.
Have your courses impacted your perspective on your home city—Manchester? What have you learned?
A few times in different courses, the city of Manchester has been brought up for the crime rate and certain parts of the city that have higher crime than other parts do. I don't necessarily disagree with the things people say about Manchester, but I find it interesting to hear other people's perspective about the city they've lived in during their college years and not their entire life. I often find that people discuss the bad things that go on in Manchester, but neglect to bring up what is being done to try and help the homeless population or the hotspots of crime for instance. The courses haven't impacted my perspective on Manchester; I still view it the same and I can see the growth all around me.
What is your current role at the College? What does your day to day look like?
My current role at the College is the Associate Director of Annual Giving. My day to day can change depending on the meetings that I have and what time of year it is. Normally, I work on reunion giving and making sure the reunion classes are staying on track for their goals, and I also work on letters that the reunion committees send out to the entire reunion classes. I currently manage six student workers, four of which are student philanthropy officers who serve as mini gift officers and reach out to alumni of the College and ask them for their support. I make sure they are staying on track for their goals, and they have everything they need to succeed. I also manage two seniors who are the co-chairs of the Senior Class Gift, and I work with them on a daily basis to figure out what events we are doing, creating communication plans for every event, and making sure they reach their goal. Also, depending on the time of year, I'm working on different campaigns such as Days of Giving, the Summer T-Shirt Campaign, or Giving Tuesday.
Are there any skills or lessons you have learned from your undergraduate or graduate classes that help you in your current role at the College?
One skill that has helped me a lot is writing. I write a lot for my current role at the College, and it has definitely helped me along the way.
Where do you hope this degree will take you next?
I’m still trying to figure that out. It’s a little challenging because obviously I work here, so I haven’t really been doing a whole lot yet, but I graduate this year in May. My hope is something maybe within criminal minds and tying it back to that victimization course.
What advice would you give to prospective graduate students?
I would say, do it. Just because I wish I did it earlier. I would say, even if you think it’s going to be challenging, it’s really not. You just need good time management, honestly. Don’t give up on something just because you think it’s going to be hard.