Colleen Coleman-
This week’s Gustie of the Week is Kiana Pitsch, a Senior Political Science and Psychological Science major with a Communication Studies minor. She is the President of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, and Co-President of Alpha Alpha Alpha Honors Society as well as the Adoption Recognition Community. She is also a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Chair as a Peer Assistant, plays violin in the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, and is a student worker in the Center for Inclusive Excellence.
Pitsch shares that her favorite part about Gustavus is the tight-knit community and connections made, and that is what originally drew her to apply here, “When you’re walking on campus, you always see at least one person you know. Being at a smaller school creates more opportunities and connections in the community…I toured here three times, and I just had this feeling that this was the right place for me,” Pitsch said.
Dr. Jill Locke, a Political Science professor and Pitsch’s advisor, has noticed Pitsch’s intelligence for years. “I still remember her analysis of citizenship in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) and US v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) from Political and Legal Thinking her first year,” Locke said. She then had Pitsch as a student multiple times over the course of Pitsch’s years at Gustavus, describing her as an amazing student and scholar.
Locke stated that working with Pitsch as an advisor had been a “real highlight of [Locke’s] time at Gustavus.” Locke looks forward to Pitsch’s future, stating that “her interest in constitutional law will serve her well in law school or any career path.”
Pitsch’s excellence expands far outside the classroom according to Tom Flunker, Director of the Center for Inclusivity and Excellence, who describes Pitsch as intuitive and a hard worker. He states that Pitsch’s dedication to the CIE has been impactful with her helpfulness and guidance to new student workers. “This year especially, and last year too, because she is a Peer Assistant, that connection with the CIE and PA’s becomes even stronger with her involvement in both,” Flunker said.
Flunker also shared that Pitsch has been involved with the Womxn of Color Summit and many other endeavors. “One of my favorite experiences on campus has been joining the Adoption Recognition Community has been a big personal growth for me, as well as our community,” Pitsch said.
Senior Alaynna Suchy, Vice-President of Operations for Alpha Sigma Tau, met Pitsch through AST, and considers her to be a great friend, “When I met her, she was so [personable] and approachable. We connected on similar experiences and our preparation for law school,” Suchy said. Suchy also stated that “despite [Pitsch’s] crazy busy schedule, she would always show up for me and offer help when I needed it.”
Within AST, Pitsch became a great mentor to Suchy, “[Pitsch] is always willing to make time to help me with questions,” Suchy said. Suchy shares that Pitsch’s influence shows all throughout AST, and that “as president, she leads me and the rest of the sorority by her admirable work ethic, grace, perseverance, fairness, and integrity.”
After graduation, Pitsch hopes to take Gustavus’ value of being a lifelong learner and apply it to her own life. Pitsch plans to attend law school and currently is in the process of applying, and is staying open-minded to where her career may end up.