A recent graduate from Southern Connecticut State University and Meriden native, Giana Pedevillano is Newtown’s newest member in the line of defense against food borne illnesses. Pedevillano started in health promotion at SCSU, but as she advanced in her program, she started to take an interest in environmental and public health. She started to focus on the bigger picture of health “to have the environment just be a clean, healthy, happy place.”

Now with a master’s degree in public health, she is helping to reroute all personal care businesses, such as salons and spas, to be inspected through Newtown’s Health District starting September 1. Pedevillano is working to obtain her FDA credentials for food service, as well as soil and septic and soil inspections.

“There [are] so many other professions that just aren’t pushed until you get into an environment where you can learn about the different majors … I learned about public health and the idea of helping a community instead of having that one-on-one patient,” Pedevillano said.

Currently, she is fully shadowing her mentors at the Health District. “I have great mentors here, which I’m really thankful for. They have done a great job ensuring that I truly am becoming the best young professional I can be.”

Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.