Hello! My name is Katherine, and I am thrilled to join the Novel Hand team. I am entering my third year at the University of Minnesota where I hope to graduate in the spring. I began my studies as a biology major on the pre-med track, but I quickly realized that path was not meant for me. I created my own major, so now I study psychology, sociology, and neuroscience on a pre-law track. While COVID-19 may have shaken up my initial plans for this summer, I have revived my love for cooking, attempted to perfect my phenomenal tennis game (I wish), I have delved back into the Spanish language, and spent numerous wonderful hours watching cheesy movies.
My meandering path through various college disciplines brought me to two different courses that had a huge impact on me: Social Justice and Sociological Perspectives on the Criminal Justice System. These courses helped me understand the importance of being an accomplice: someone who actively works to dismantle the systems and structures that are oppressing others. I began volunteering at Communities United Against Police Brutality. I worked as a court watcher. I attended trials and observed the behavior of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and the jury. I have always believed the system to be fair and just, but this experience opened my eyes to the biases and faults within our current criminal justice system. I want to become a lawyer to change this system from within.
Another passion of mine began when I was sitting in church around the age of 12 and I was first introduced to what human trafficking is. It is such a complex and often overlooked global problem. I am taking an international law course in the fall which will allow me to expand my breadth of knowledge regarding trafficking and other complex global issues that concern human rights. I hope to be able to continue to educate myself and others about this problem and explore possible solutions. I also intend to explore other humanitarian issues such as refugee crises and homelessness.
A few fun tidbits of information about me– I cannot begin to express my love for dogs. They tend to be the first thing I notice in a crowd. Traveling is one of my greatest joys in life. I have been to 40 out of 50 of the states in the U.S., and one day I hope to backpack through Europe. I love to read, and I am always looking for new book suggestions.
I am excited to be writing for Novel Hand and to be learning more along the way. The main areas I will be covering are criminal justice and reform, human trafficking, refugee crises, and homelessness, but I am sure these will expand as I learn more. Please reach out if you have any questions about what I am covering or Novel Hand. My email is richm173@umn.edu.
- Green America: Campaigning Corporations for Change in the Cocoa Industry - June 29, 2021
- Closing the Gap Between Now and Herd Immunity - April 27, 2021
- How the Third Largest Contributor to Homelessness is Being Overlooked - March 29, 2021