Yaniah Powell

Background

About Yaniah Powell

I’m a junior at Heidelberg University, double majoring in Criminology and Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I’ve built hands-on experience through internships at a prestigious law firm, where I assisted with trial preparation and case analysis, and at UNC Charlotte, where I conducted data analysis on police killings in major U.S. cities. Currently, I serve as President of the Black Student Union, Student Senate Diversity Ambassador, and Vice President of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society. I’m also a member of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. I created C.O.R.E.(Community Opportunities for Research and Engagement), a program designed to bridge the gap between students, the broader community, and local law enforcement. In addition to my academic and leadership roles, I work as a Juvenile Corrections Officer, where I interact directly with justice-involved youth. This experience has deepened my understanding of the system and strengthened my commitment to criminal justice reform. My passion lies in addressing systemic issues within the justice system, and I’m particularly interested in the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) division. I recently applied for the FBI Honors Internship Program and hope to use my skills and experiences to combat cybercrime and contribute to national security.