Meet Savannah Pelletz ’27: Sociology

Growing up, Savannah Pelletz ‘27 shared a strong connection with one of her school guidance counselors, a positive force who helped her navigate difficult moments and inspired her to offer that same level of care to other students one day. Now, Savannah plans to become a middle school guidance counselor when she graduates from Curry- a goal shaped by her interest in supporting young people during the most formative years of their lives.

In the fall of her junior year, she joined Coaching4Change (C4C), a nonprofit organization that places and trains college students as paid mentors to provide academic and social-emotional support to K-12 students in underserved school districts. When Dr. Rebecca Kendall, Associate Professor for Criminal Justice and Sociology, recommended C4C as a perfect fit, Savannah saw it as the opportunity to explore the counseling field, and her placement in the program at Talbot Middle School in Fall River evolved into much more than an internship. Savannah says the highlight has been the relationships she’s built with students in the 7^th grade, many of whom welcomed her into their community from the moment she arrived.

“Every day I come to Talbot, I am so excited to see my mentees and spend time with them,” she says. “It doesn’t just feel like a job. I genuinely look forward to coming here every time.”

Whether she’s offering academic support, checking in on attendance, or helping students navigate social-emotional challenges, Savannah has discovered how much she values working on-on-one or in small groups. As a sociology major, she has spent years studying how social factors shape student success, and she’s grateful to finally put that knowledge into practice.

“I’m glad to be part of a program that makes a real difference,” she explains. “I want to be a positive presence in my mentees’ lives and help them build both academic and personal confidence.”

What has surprised Savannah the most is how fully she has been embraced by both students and staff. Students invite her to chorus concerts, ask her to join field trips, and genuinely want her around. Teachers have been equally welcoming and supportive, making her feel like a true member of the school community. This collective support affirmed everything Savannah hoped to discover.

“Being embraced by both the students and staff made everything click,” she says. “It confirmed that working in a school setting, supporting kids directly, is exactly where I'm meant to be.”