Graduating Student Spotlight: Meghan Welsh MacKenzie Riley Young | May 4, 2021

Graduating senior Meghan Welsh ’21 has spent a lot of time as a student here making a difference in our community –from her work as the President of the Rotaract Club and creating the Food Pantry on campus to her leadership roles in other various clubs on campus.


Meghan also spent this past spring making a difference in the greater community interning as a Victim Witness Advocate with the Kennebec District Attorney’s Office in Augusta, Maine.

In her role there, Meghan is able to utilize her studies as a Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice double major. As a Victim Witness Advocate, Meghan prepares victims for the court process both adults and children, assists law enforcement and Assistant District Attorneys with scheduling and completing interviews with witnesses and victims, and helps the attorneys with general trial preparation and manage day to day operations which include speaking with victims on the phone as well as meeting with them on zoom.

“I have found myself using so much of what I learned at Thomas while completing my internship,” said Meghan.

She says this includes her studies in Domestic and Family Violence, Sexual Offenders, Restorative Justice, and the Courts System.

“There is just so much that goes on behind the scenes before a case goes to trial that I never knew about and being able to learn about it while actively doing the internship is something I will never forget,” she said. “I have even used skills I have learned in my non major classes that I have used. The other week, I was asked by my supervisor to make an excel sheet to be used for future grand jury proceedings, and I used what I learned from ‘Computer Applications’ to do so.”

Meghan is so grateful for this internship experience. In the beginning of the fall semester, she was trying to pivot after her internship back home in Rhode Island had been cancelled due to the pandemic. So, she went to see Wendi in the Professional & Career Development office.

“Within a week of meeting with Professional and Career Development, I had an internship all lined up with the Kennebec District Attorney’s Office,” said Meghan. “I must also mention in here the support from all of my professors for helping along the way and especially my Academic Advisor Dr. Horton for helping me and pushing me these past three years to be the best person and student I possibly could be.”

Meghan said as she nears graduation, she feels prepared for what comes next thanks to her time at Thomas College.

“Thomas College has allowed me to explore my passions and interests both inside the classroom and outside in the community,” she said. “Socially, Thomas College has allowed me to work on and improve my skills to be a great leader and a good team member. Educationally, Thomas College had taught me so much about my field of interest. I have learned so much while at Thomas College whether it be about myself and what skills I have and how I can use those skills in the real world.”

Meghan will graduate on May 15 with a Bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. She was also recently honored with the Thomas Award, which honors two seniors on the basis of scholarship, leadership and service to the College and community. She plans to go back home to Rhode Island look for a career where she hopes to continue to pursue work that allows her to improve the lives of others and make a difference.