Sydney Merritt '26

Sydney Merritt ‘25 | Honors Criminal Justice and Psychology major 

Sydney Merritt ’26 came to Saint Anselm College all the way from San Jose, Cal. to dominate on the ice and in her academics. Whether volunteering to teach local high school students or conducting pivotal adolescent research that benefits community organizations, Merritt has most definitely made a lasting impact on the Hilltop. 

What brought you to Saint Anselm?

It was initially the Women’s Ice Hockey team, but I also appreciated the value of academics at the College. I think at some other schools, there's more of like a “sports first” mentality and I wanted to prioritize my education, as much as I love playing my sport. You go to college to get a degree and either go on to further education or a job. I also really liked the campus and thought it was beautiful. Plus I had heard nothing but good things from other people about the school!

How did you choose to study criminal justice and psychology? 

I’ve always believed that I’d rather do something that I’m passionate about than doing something that I’m good at but don’t necessarily enjoy. During my senior year of high school, I took AP Psychology. Up until that point, I thought I wanted to be an engineer, but after that class I knew that I was much more interested in psychology than anything else. As for criminal justice, I’d always liked learning about crime. I took some classes here on campus and enjoyed them, so I stuck with it. 

What are your postgraduate plans?

I'm applying to a couple of different schools to get a Ph.D. in criminology. I'm hoping that from there, I can work in research. I see myself academia at some point, maybe as a professor or something of that sort. I don't have a concrete career plan, but definitely graduate school. Then I plan to see what opportunities I gain from that. 

Speaking of research, have you conducted any as a student? 

I researched labeling theory, which is a theory of how we absorb the positive or negative labels that we're given. I wanted to focus on how we internalize labels and in turn how our behavior exhibits the characteristics of whatever that label is. One of my professors connected me with the Manchester Police Athletic League (MPAL) and I was able to work with some kids there. MPAL hosts free athletic, enrichment, and intervention programs that connect kids with adult mentors in hopes of encouraging them to make good choices. I wanted to learn how labels impact self-perception and affect the way that these MPAL kids view themselves.

How has your experience been on the Women’s Ice Hockey team?

A lot has changed about the program, but in a really positive way. It’s grown a lot in my time here. This year might be one of our best years so far. We’ve gotten to play big schools like Yale and Dartmouth. Some people don’t expect a small school like Saint Anselm to even be able to skate with these big schools, but we do, and it's awesome to see. Coming here, I didn't anticipate competing against these schools. It’s also great having a group of girls who experience the same things as me, from waking up early, to going to class, to heading to practice. 

Has being a student-athlete at Saint Anselm changed you?

I wasn't entirely sure what I was capable of before coming here and Saint Anselm expanded my view of what I know I can do. Living across the country can be difficult when you’re far from the support system that you've had all your life. I lived away from home a bit in high school playing club hockey, but I’ve learned how build a new community here on campus. I have so many friends and people who I consider family here. 

Do you have any mentors on campus?

Professor Elizabeth Rickenbach and Professor Kathleen Flannery in the Psychology Department, and Professor Peter Cordella in the Criminal Justice Department have all been extremely helpful. They've been super kind and guided me throughout my research process. I had never done anything like it before, so it was great to have some assistance with that.

What else are you involved with on campus?

I’ve worked as anAccess Academy instructor through the Meelia Center for Community Engagement since my freshman year. I teach Discovering Psychology to Manchester high school students once a week to help them earn academic credit. I’ve had past students end up attending Saint Anselm and recently had one student who was in a boxing class I volunteered with at MPAL. It’s fun getting to know and build relationships with them. 

Have you felt any crossover between athletics and academics?

I’ve been able to apply the biological portions of psychology, like neuroscience, to athletics. Just understanding the science behind maintaining healthy habits and getting eight hours of sleep is useful and has made me more mindful of taking breaks. Being a student-athlete can be overwhelming at times like midterms and finals, but just taking a second to relax and recognize that an exam isn’t the end of the world will make you feel better.

What do you love about being Anselmian?

The community aspect. The people here are very, very kind. Some of my friends and I kind of describe it as “the little bubble of Saint Anselm,” because when you venture off campus you might run into people who aren’t the friendliest, but on campus everyone is nice. Since it’s a smaller college, you are personally seen by other students, professors, and staff in general. I know most of the faculty in both the Psychology and Criminal Justice Department. 

Why would you encourage someone to come to Saint Anselm?

It’s a very welcoming place and the College makes a great effort to support students. Whether it’s through the Academic Resource Center (ARC) or even changing the dining hall menu, Saint Anselm listens to what the students want. There’s also a ton to do, even if you're not an athlete or shy. It’s not hard to be involved on campus and to find your place here.