When Northeastern University student Sophie Schmults found out that her co-op was going to be at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, she thought the work she’d do would involve her field of study, organized crime. So she was “a little taken aback” when she was assigned to the civil rights and human trafficking unit. “I had no experience in that realm, and I wasn’t really sure what I was going to be dealing with,” Schmults said. A year later, not only has Schmults figured out that prosecuting and preventing human trafficking is her life’s work, she has earned a prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship to help her continue on that mission. The scholarship recognizes college students who are dedicated to public service.
Even though she was unsure at the beginning of her co-op placement, “It really clicked for me,” Schmults said. “I’m very, very lucky that co-op let me have that experience and it all worked out for the best. Schmults will graduate from Northeastern this December with a combined English and criminal justice major. The co-op in New York is not the only way that the Rhode Island native has taken advantage of Northeastern’s opportunities. “Northeastern’s been really great because I’ve been able to do 10,000 things at once,” Schmults said. Not quite 10,000, but Schmults’ involvement is extensive.
