Jeannerenee Gilliard

College of Liberal Arts ‘25

Research Intern
The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project

My name is Jeanne Gilliard (She/Her) and I’m a rising senior with a major in Political Science, and a minor in Sociology! I will be graduating this upcoming May 2025, and on campus- some organizations I’m a part of include The Black Law Students Association, Pre Law-Society, She's the First, and Tri-Alpha (First Generation Students Academic Honors Society). Throughout my time at Temple, I’ve had the opportunity to Intern for a Pennsylvania State Representative; Napoleon Nelson, and this summer I am interning at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts!

This summer, I am a Research Intern at The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, a clinic within The Center for Law, Equity, and Race (CLEAR) at Northeastern University School of Law, in Boston, MA. This opportunity has allowed me to investigate Jim Crow era homicide cases which reflect the justice system’s failure to protect African American men and women. My focus this summer includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, with over 20 cases ranging from the early 1930s through the mid 1950s. Daily, I conduct extensive research surrounding specific cases which include exploring archived newspaper clippings, genealogical research, racist and wrongful executions, and more. I am able to connect with historical societies, state archivists, local state courts, and other outlets that contribute to my research. Although the material is extremely sensitive, I am passionate about the work, and am motivated to be informed.

As someone who has future goals of attending law school, I think this is a great space to experience the atmosphere as an undergraduate. I am supervised by attorneys, professors, and researchers at the law school, who I learn from, and seek valuable advice from! I am surrounded by law students who offer guidance and suggestions on tips to navigate the period between undergraduate and graduate school. I’ve been able to sit in on a few law school classes this summer, which is always exciting. This internship continues to prepare me for the next steps in my academic career as it offers so many opportunities to engage with public interest, criminal justice reform, and restorative justice practices.

I really enjoy the environment and space that I work in. One of my favorite parts of this internship has been collaborating with 4 other undergraduate interns that I am joined by. Workplace community is very important to me, and this summer has definitely exceeded my expectations. I also appreciate our weekly Lunch and Learn activities, which have included a Juneteenth celebration, table discussions about current events, and presentations on all of the fantastic things Northeastern has to offer! I love that I learn new skills everyday, research skills that I will get to bring with me back to Temple this school year!

To be completely honest, this spring (and last spring)- I probably applied to at least 15-20 internships with almost no luck. I find myself interested in so many different things that I wanted to have flexibility, and a wide array of options to consider. Not hearing back from organizations is always disappointing and discouraging, but I’ll give credit to my Careers in Political Science course for encouraging me to “cold email” organizations. I think organizations appreciate students taking the initiative to reach out and directly express interest, even if they do not have an official job listing posted. Neither of my internships had job listings, so I took that opportunity to essentially “pitch” myself, and emphasize my interest in becoming involved. I really recommend this to all of my friends, and I think it is something to consider doing even if it may feel intimidating!