Ariana Gilmore just might be the queen of Criminal Justice internships. The senior already has experience with four law enforcement agencies and is actively pursuing a fifth internship for next summer before she returns to campus to finish the Forensic Psychology 4+1 program.

“In an internship, you witness how classroom theory is actually applied,” says Gilmore. “If you learn something and then do it, it’s going to stick.”

Her approach is a perfect fit for a career-focused education at Neumann, where the application of theory to practice is in the university’s DNA.

Gilmore’s long list of real-world experiences began in the summer of 2024 as an intern with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. Her immersion into the justice system shifted into high gear in her junior year when she volunteered at District Court in Media, interned with the District Attorney’s Office in Wilmington, and worked a full summer with the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division.

For the summer of 2027, she has applied for an internship with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. If she is accepted, she could be assigned to Philadelphia or travel to Virginia.

The Pottstown native wants to be a federal agent. To reach that goal, she is eagerly absorbing as much field experience as she can.

“There are so many parts of the criminal justice system that intertwine,” she explains. “If you don’t see it and experience it, you’re not going to learn about it. I’ve witnessed interagency cooperation between the FBI and IRS, the work that is required to get to trial, and the actual testimony of agents in front of a judge. The networking was beneficial, too, to make connections and build your reputation.”

Gilmore’s interest in law enforcement was generated by television shows. Criminal Minds was her favorite.

“I was fascinated by the psychological aspect of the stories – why people commit crimes, the environmental factors, and preventative measures,” she recalls. “As a junior in high school, I toured Neumann and discovered the Forensic Psychology 4+1 program. That was exactly what I wanted to do.”

She is very happy with her decision. Her professors -- Demi Moore, Kristen Acosta, Colleen McDonough, and others – bring real-life experience to the classroom, and the internships have prepared her to pursue her dream.