Christopher Whitten

Expected MPP 2017

B.A., Criminology, Stonehill College

Chris is a 23-year-old from Weymouth, Massachusetts. Before attending the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at UConn he was at Stonehill College pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology with a minor in Mathematics. While at Stonehill he was given the opportunity to intern with the Foxborough Police Department. Chris also worked at the Boy’s Detention Program in Brockton, MA – a Department of Youth Services contracted juvenile detention unit. He also ran cross country and spent much of his free time playing ultimate frisbee. Born and raised in Boston, Chris is an avid Beantown sports supporter, which entails being a die-hard Brady-Belichick fanatic.

Chris first became interested in pursuing an MPP from UConn’s Department of Public Policy because of its multidisciplinary curriculum and its dynamic approach to real-world issues. The diverse variety of positions across various organizational levels held by the program’s alumni ensured him that he could find a track most suited to his skills and interests. Interested in the fields of policy analysis and program evaluation, Chris is excited about the networking opportunities available through the program. He was intellectually fulfilled by the program’s quantitative methods and policy analysis classes and is currently gaining some real world insight working as the Economic Development Intern with the Town of Mansfield through the program’s second year Internship and Professional Practice (IPP) program. Chris is also enthusiastic about the opportunity to expand upon his current analytical skillset with the program’s Capstone class – Causal Program Evaluation.

Chris looks forward to combining the decision-making and leadership skills learned in the program with his experience in policy analysis to land a career performing research in the field of criminal justice. He is thankful to be a part of UConn’s Public Policy program. This practical and intellectually challenging program is designed to serve students with a wide range of interests and he recommends it to anyone looking to for a career in the fields of public policy and/or management.