It’s been 25 years since the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program was first launched at John Jay College, and to celebrate the program’s outstanding track record of getting students accepted to Ph.D. programs, a series of events were scheduled through the spring semester.

In late March, the McNair program hosted an alumni panel in which current students heard directly from two McNair alumni who attained doctorates, Dr. Albert Gamarra and Dr. Jessica Armstrong. In front of an audience of students and faculty members, Gamarra and Armstrong discussed how the McNair program prepared them for success in their Ph.D. programs.

“McNair taught me that you need to dedicate yourself,” said Gamarra, who like many McNair Scholars, was a first-generation college student. After Gamarra graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 2004, he decided to pursue his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice at John Jay, but the process wasn’t always easy. “It would’ve been great if I completed my degree in four years, but it actually took me seven,” he said. “Even if it takes twenty years to finish your degree, McNair taught me to keep at it and never give up.”

Dr. Armstrong agrees that McNair prepared her well for her Ph.D. program, and it was because of an internship she had as an undergraduate student at John Jay that she applied to a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Clark University. “I realized I was curious and passionate about learning how to treat substance abuse disorders,” she said. Now, Armstrong is completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University.

Associate Director of the McNair program Dr. Ernest Lee says that once John Jay students understand the process of attaining a doctorate, they are motivated to do so. There are currently 25 McNair-John Jay alumni who have graduated with a Ph.D., as well as many more that are currently enrolled in programs. One of those students is Tannuja Rozario, who graduated in 2016 and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. This year, Rozario was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship for her dissertation proposal on the transnational processes of Caribbean women traveling to New York to obtain reproductive health services. “McNair taught me the importance of utilizing all the opportunities that come my way,” said Rozario. “It gave me the tools I needed, including the courage to even apply for grants.”

At Alumni Reunion on April 20th, McNair alumni as well as faculty members and students gathered to celebrate the monumental anniversary. After an introduction from Director of the McNair program Dr. Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, President Karol V. Mason expressed admiration for the program and those who have worked hard to make it successful. “The McNair program tells students they can reach for the stars when it comes to their education, showing them, yes, a doctorate is attainable for you, regardless of your race, regardless of your gender, regardless of your family’s education, and regardless of your economic status,” she said. “Thank you to McNair faculty mentors, who are so committed to our students’ success.”

Dr. Jannette Domingo, who was instrumental in launching the program at John Jay in the early ’90s, was among the faculty members honored at the event. Because of her contribution, the McNair computer lab will be renamed in her honor. “Thank you to our McNair Scholars,” Dr. Domingo said. “They made my dream for this program come true.”

On April 20, John Jay alumni gathered on campus to celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy a night with old friends at the annual Alumni Reunion. Over 400 alumni and guests registered for the event.

This year’s Alumni Reunion was the 10^th consecutive all-class reunion in John Jay’s 53-year history. The event coincided with the 25^th anniversary of the highly successful McNair Scholars program, and several McNair graduates, and former faculty members associated with the program, returned to campus to celebrate the momentous event.

Read more about the 25^th McNair anniversary here.

President Karol V. Mason thanked the John Jay community and expressed her excitement to experience her first reunion at John Jay. 

Andrew Schweighardt (Ph.D. ’12), Treasurer of the Alumni Executive Board, delivered welcome remarks at the awards dinner. Schweighardt introduced former McCann Scholar Victoria Fix to the stage, who presented this year’s Michael F. McCann Scholarship to student Santos Garcia Avelar.

Leading up to the reunion, two new scholarships made possible by generous supporters of John Jay were also announced: the first ever Bettina P. Murray Music Fellowship, which was presented to student Patricia Campbell, and the Camille & Peter Mancuso BA’79 Music Fellowship, which was presented to student Rafael Sholomov. 

The annual Alumni Reunion Awards were given to two alumni and one faculty member for outstanding achievement in their field. Attorney Muhammad U. Faridi was presented the Young Alumnus Award; wrongful conviction expert Mark Deskovic was presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award; and Dr. Teresa A. Booker was presented the Distinguished Faculty Award for her contributions as Associate Professor in the Department of Africana Studies.

Read more about the 2018 Alumni Award Recipients here. 

Alumni from all years and backgrounds mingled with one another as well as with current students. Rachell Henriquez (’19) and Verlisha Phillip (’19), who are part of the Pre-Law Institute and plan on enrolling in law school after graduation, attended the reunion this year so that they could have a chance to hear from accomplished alumni.  Henriquez says that learning the story of Young Alumnus Award Winner Muhammad U. Faridi, who went from being a cab driver to becoming an attorney, inspired her to dream big. “Faridi is now one of the top litigators in the state,” said Henriquez. 

Phillip agrees that meeting all the accomplished alumni at reunion inspired her with confidence. “It’s empowering to see these leaders,” she said.

See all the photos of Alumni Reunion here.

Solitary confinement has become a critical issue in criminal justice reform, and this April, John Jay College, in partnership with The Center on Media, Crime and Justice, Public Square Media and National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), hosted Solitary Confinement Week, a weeklong series of events designed to educate journalists, advocates, John Jay community members and the general public on the adverse effects of prolonged isolation.

In addition to a symposium titled “Rethinking Solitary Confinement: Where Do We Go From Here?”, a walk-through, replica solitary cell was installed on John Jay’s campus, where participants learned about the negative mental and physical effects of being held in isolation for up to 23 hours a day in a tiny six-by-nine-foot cell. Participants also used virtual reality headsets to get a better understanding of the psychological damage caused by solitary confinement.

Watch President Karol V. Mason experience NRCAT’s solitary confinement simulation.

"This is really powerful,” said John Jay President Karol V. Mason, after going through the virtual experience. “There ought to be very, very limited circumstances where somebody is separated from the general population.”

Johnny Perez, Director of the U.S. Prisons Program with The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), has experienced solitary confinement firsthand and is now an advocate for the abolition of solitary confinement, a practice that he and NRCAT believe constitutes torture. He says that educating students on the realities of mass incarceration is important, especially for John Jay students who will become future criminal justice leaders.

“A lot of legislators write policy with people they never come in contact with,” Perez said. “There is a big space between policy in theory and policy in practice, and in order to close that space, you need people who are directly impacted involved in teaching and learning.”

President Karol V. Mason expressed admiration for Perez and the advocates who participated in the weeklong series who are working towards criminal justice reform. “Johnny Perez spent three years in solitary confinement, but he is still able to do this work and make sure other people don't have that experience,” she said. “There's so much talent locked up in our criminal justice system."

On April 25, the John Jay Student Affairs Office, Public Square Media and NRCAT screened video stories from “RIKERS: An American Jail” and The Marshall Project’s “We Are Witnesses,” and featured panelists of experts and advocates. Bryant Silva, a graduating senior at John Jay College who interns at Public Square Media and helped organize Solitary Confinement Week, says that events like these allow students to understand the importance of criminal justice reform. “As a college for criminal justice, this is directly relevant to what we study,” Silva said. “People are getting informed, and they’re seeing that solitary confinement is unacceptable and a violation of our human rights.”

“Having a deep understanding of mass incarceration allows you to humanize the people who have been impacted by the system,” said Perez. “We’re not saying you shouldn’t hold people accountable—we’re saying you shouldn’t treat people inhumanely in the course of holding them accountable.”
 

Thursday, May 3, 2018– The Accelerate, Complete and Engage (ACE) program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice will welcome a third cohort of students this fall 2018, with support from the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity) for an additional 275 to 300 students for up to five years. The program is designed to improve students’ persistence in collegiate programs, raise graduation rates and help young people reach their full potential.

ACE has been so successful that students who started as freshmen three years ago are graduating earlier than expected this May, as part of the class of 2018. These graduating students have diverse interests and career plans, and have accepted positions at the New York Police Department and Queens County District Attorney’s Office, enrolled in graduate school for social work, and are entering the fields of law, healthcare, and public service.

One of those students is Abidur Rahman, who is graduating early thanks to the ACE program. The program helped him enroll in summer classes and finish his bachelor’s degree in just three years. Because of ACE, Rahman received financial support that he says played a crucial role in helping him complete his education. As a Law and Society major and a New York City native, Rahman is passionate about learning the law to help empower local marginalized communities. Through his involvement with the Pre-Law Institute at John Jay, he recently completed an internship at Bronx County Family Court that radically changed his perception of the legal field.

“In Hollywood, you usually see white men in courtrooms, but the judge was a Puerto Rican woman,” Rahman said. “Seeing her work with parents rather than just punishing them inspired me. Being a judge in a family court is now one of my highest ambitions.”

The ACE program is the baccalaureate model of CUNY’s highly successful ASAP (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs). The ASAP program doubled graduation rates and is a nationally recognized model. Just as ASAP aims to graduate at least half of its students within three years – a goal it has consistently exceeded – ACE aims to double the current graduate rate of its students to at least 50 percent within four years and 65 percent within five years.  NYC Opportunity provided CUNY ASAP’s first funding, and is closely engaged in the work of both ASAP and ACE. A college degree substantially increases earnings and reduces the likelihood of experiencing poverty, making it a key aspect of making New York City a fairer and more equitable city. 

“My top priority is our students’ success, and I'm encouraged that the early data shows that ACE has significant promise for improving retention and completion rates,” says John Jay College President Karol V. Mason. “Being the first four-year CUNY college to initiate the ACE program gives me great pride, and I’m grateful for the support of the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, the Arnold Foundation and CUNY so that we can expand and study this program and help more ACE students stay firmly on track to graduate from John Jay in four years.”

ACE provides the same proven system of comprehensive support as ASAP, including dedicated academic advisement, career development counseling, as well as financial support such as tuition gap waivers, winter and summer session scholarships, unlimited MetroCards, and textbook vouchers.  The program requires internships in the junior and senior years, and offers 14 majors for full-time study at John Jay.  This type of programming evens the playing field for all students by providing access to supportive services that help ensure graduation.

CUNY received funding from the Robin Hood Foundation to launch the ACE pilot cohort of 250 students in fall 2015, and NYC Opportunity and the Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women supported a second cohort in fall 2017.  With the addition of this third cohort, NYC Opportunity’s support totals more than $9.5 million for the ACE program, and the addition of the new cohort brings the total number of students served to 894. Additionally, through the support of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, CUNY and Metis Associates will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of this new ACE cohort. 

“We are strongly committed to college success as an important anti-poverty strategy, and are excited about the potential of ACE to dramatically increase graduate rates,” said Matthew Klein, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. “We are proud to increase our support for ACE after its promising start, and look forward to learning whether its comprehensive model can achieve as much success at the baccalaureate level as CUNY ASAP has had at the associate level.”

“We know that having a college degree means higher earnings and a lower likelihood of experiencing poverty, so it is important that we remove obstacles that too often prevent students from pursuing higher education or staying on track to graduate” said Carson Hicks, Deputy Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. “ACE provides a foundation and resources that help young people earn their baccalaureate degrees. By funding a third cohort of ACE, NYC Opportunity is investing in our city’s future.”

Preliminary analysis of outcomes for the first ACE cohort demonstrates excellent progress toward timely graduation. Fall 2015 ACE students have higher retention rates, and take and earn more credits than similar John Jay students who are not enrolled in the program. As of fall 2017, 65 percent of the fall 2015 ACE cohort were on track to graduate within four years (based on credit accumulation and academic standing) vs. 37 percent of statistically matched comparison students.  Achievement gaps appear to be narrowing between race subgroups in the areas of retention, credits attempted/earned, and being on track to graduate within four years.
 

John Jay College
An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Minority-Serving Institution offering a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. John Jay is home to faculty and research centers at the forefront of researching and advancing criminal and social justice reform. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College engages the theme of justice and explores fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.

The City University of New York
The City University of New York is the nation’s leading urban public university. Founded in 1847, CUNY counts 13 Nobel Prize and 23 MacArthur (“Genius”) grant winners among its alumni.  CUNY students, alumni and faculty have garnered scores of other prestigious honors over the years in recognition of historic contributions to the advancement of the sciences, business, the arts and myriad other fields. The University comprises 24 institutions: 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, William E. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, CUNY Graduate Center, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY School of Law, CUNY School of Professional Studies and CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. The University serves more than 272,000 degree-seeking students. CUNY offers online baccalaureate and master’s degrees through the School of Professional Studies.

Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity
The Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity) uses evidence and innovation to reduce poverty and increase equity. It advances research, data and design in the City’s program and policy development, service delivery, and budget decisions. NYC Opportunity’s work includes analyzing existing anti-poverty approaches, developing new interventions, facilitating the sharing of data across City agencies, and rigorously assessing the impact of key initiatives. NYC Opportunity manages a discrete fund and works collaboratively with City agencies to design, test and oversee new programs and digital products. It also produces research and analysis of poverty and social conditions, including its influential annual Poverty Measure, which provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of poverty in New York City than the federal rate.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
May 8, 2018

In January 2018, John Jay College of Criminal Justice announced a search for a new campus food service provider, but shortly afterwards the central administration of CUNY announced that it had decided to change current policy and hire a single vendor to oversee food services at all campuses. The University’s process will result in the replacement of John Jay’s independent food services contract with MBJ Food Service, and will provide for stronger oversight uniformly across all university facilities.

The CUNY Board of Trustees Chairman William Thompson explained that the “[CUNY] Board is committed to ensuring food service workers enjoy dignity in their workplaces on all our campuses.” Chairman Thompson said that the CUNY RFP will include strong language regarding expected vendor compliance with employment laws, audit rights for CUNY, and a labor harmony agreement to protect the rights of food service workers.

As a result, John Jay cancelled the College’s RFP and did not select any vendor. Instead, John Jay will work closely with CUNY throughout the University’s RFP process to select a new vendor. Until a University-wide food service provider is chosen, MBJ will continue under its existing contract to provide food services for our community under continued close oversight.

John Jay President Karol Mason stated, “I am confident that by participating in the CUNY-wide search for campus food service providers, John Jay will be best positioned to provide affordable, nutritious food options for the benefit of everyone on our campus, as well as to support safe and fair labor practices. I appreciate the partnership of CUNY, the food service workers, and other stakeholders in promptly addressing these issues

The Ron Moelis Social Innovation Fellowship was created to help John Jay students pursue business endeavors and opportunities that are socially responsible. That’s why Joseph Mahmud, Steven Pacheco and Donauta Watson-Starcevic, three inaugural Ron Moelis Social Innovation Fellows, started creating CONNECTr, a mobile app that will help people with criminal records find employers open to hiring them.

Professor Heath Brown, who directed the fellowship, was contacted by Echoing Green, requesting student proposals for The Future of Work Social Innovation Challenge, sponsored by Echoing Green, Barclays and Smart Cities New York. “Echoing Green is a global leader in social innovation, and I knew these students would thrive in the competition,” says Brown. “Joseph, Steven and Donauta completed a small business plan at the same time that they were finishing their spring academic semester, running for student government and preparing for graduation.”

Their hard work paid off. The CONNECTr team won the Echoing Green Social Impact Challenge with their plan to create a mobile job app that helps formerly incarcerated individuals find employment. “The competition was intense,” says Pacheco, John Jay’s next Student Council President. “However, it was surprisingly thoughtful in regards to networking and bonding.”

His teammate, Mahmud, who’s worked with the Prisoner Reentry Institute (PRI) as a Pinkerton Fellow at The Legal Aid Society, agrees. “We networked with people we would never have crossed paths with in any other setting, finalists from elite institutions like Columbia University, NYU, Penn and MIT,” says Mahmud. “None of us had a business or technology background, but we strongly believed in our idea. The adrenaline was unreal during the competition round, and we came out victorious.”

Watson-Starcevic, an English major, was struck by the supportive atmosphere amongst the competitors. During lunchtime the participants all sat together and shared the visions behind their innovations. “There was this really powerful moment when a young man blurted out, ‘Wow, it really doesn’t matter which one of us wins.’ He was right. We were all committed to social good being done,” says Watson-Starcevic.

To learn more about the CONNECTr app, and the visionaries behind it, we talked to the team and their advisor, Professor Heath Brown.

Q:  What made you so passionate about creating this app?

SP: I saw the necessity of creating CONNECTr based on my experience of being released from prison with little to no support. Society’s overall impression of you as a formerly incarcerated person is that you are no longer worthy of your humanity, and this worldview impacts every aspect of your life.

DWS: I am not an American citizen. I grew up undocumented. So I understand the hopelessness associated with a lack of opportunity in a place called home. The concept behind CONNECTr stems from an overwhelming desire to be of service to a demographic that’s been systematically locked out of opportunities.

Q: What ripple effect do you hope this app will create?

JM: I want to see our app break cultural and biased views of justice-affected individuals on a macro level. The app will give hope to people within the justice system, letting them know that there are socially conscious companies out there open to hiring them.

DWS: At the moment there’s a real struggle in American industries around diversity and inclusion. During the Ron Moelis Social Innovation Fellowship, we had the chance to visit companies and hear about their need for candidates from diverse backgrounds. Joseph tapped into that information and formed a large group of organizations ready and willing to support what we are doing with this app.

Q: What would help you take the app to the next level?

SP: An investment valued at $200,000 would allow us to do wonders in a short period of time, three to six months to be specific. Aside from all of the business and operational logistics, we greatly need an app developer and a graphic designer to help us materialize this concept as soon as possible.

DWS: We’re looking for partnerships, advisers, and additional support from employers willing to sign on to our vision. Of course, more capital would help fund the design and marketing strategy behind the app.

Q: Professor Brown, what are you most proud of most about this team?

HB: I’m most proud of how they combined their various backgrounds. Donauta has a background in writing and the arts. Steven has a background in music and student government. And Joseph has a background in public administration and has worked at several legal advocacy organizations. Innovation demands combining perspectives and learning from diverse insights. This is what every team of John Jay students brings to their collective work. It’s up to us as an institution to make these opportunities happen, where they can collaborate so productively. The sky is the limit on what Bloodhounds can do.

Champion of Women’s Rights Rashida Manjoo and Pioneering Criminologist Ronald V. Clarke to Receive Honorary Degrees and Address the Graduating Class

Led by President Karol V. Mason, who will preside over the ceremonies for the first time, students, alumni, faculty and guests will gather at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, N.Y., for John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s 53rd Commencement exercises. In keeping with the national trend, the 3,700+ graduates in the Class of 2018 – John Jay’s largest graduating class ever – are 58 percent female.

The College will award 3,110 bachelor’s degrees and 607 master’s degrees. The class includes 178 military veterans. Students range in age from 19 to 74, with six pairs of siblings and two sets of twins.

This year, eleven students enrolled in the College’s Accelerate, Complete and Engage (ACE) program as freshmen three years ago will graduate earlier than expected and will enter the fields of law, healthcare, and public service. ACE is a comprehensive program designed to dramatically raise graduation rates and help young people reach their full potential.

This year’s morning ceremony will also feature the first graduate of the Prison to College Pipeline (P2CP) Program.

View snapshots of a few members of the Class of 2018.

Speakers will include the following honorary degree recipients.

Ronald V. Clarke, one of the most important figures in criminal justice research, has helped to transform the study of criminology. His work has reshaped crime prevention strategies worldwide to focus on changing the characteristics of the situations in which crimes occur. Over the past 25 years, this concept has help lead to significant crime reduction in New York City, the United States and other nations. Clarke is a University Professor at the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice and the associate director of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. In 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Stockholm Prize in Criminology. He will be awarded a Doctor of Science degree.

Rashida Manjoo is an international human rights advocate who has worked to establish women’s rights as human rights. As the United Nations Special She Rapporteur on Violence Against Women from 2009 to 2015, she was a trailblazer in the fight for a binding global treaty to recognize extreme domestic violence against women as human rights violations. Manjoo was also an anti-Apartheid activist and women’s liberation campaigner in South Africa. She also served as the former Parliamentary Commissioner of the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) of South Africa. She is currently the co-convenor of the Human Rights Program within the Law Faculty at the University of Cape Town She will be awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Veronika Lizarv is a Forensic Psychology major from Brooklyn, NY, with a 4.0 GPA. Her twin sister graduated last year with a John Jay degree in Forensic Psychology, and her mother has a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology, so Lizarov actually attributes much of her academic success to her family, as well as her caring professors.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

• Morning Ceremony begins at 10:30 AM
  Ronald V. Clarke will address graduates.
   
• Afternoon Ceremony begins at 3:30 PM
  Rashida Manjoo will address graduates.

Arthur Ashe Stadium, 124-02 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, N.Y.
 

An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York is a Hispanic Serving Institution and Minority Serving Institution offering a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. John Jay is home to faculty and research centers at the forefront of researching and advancing criminal and social justice reform. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College engages the theme of justice and explores fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.

In partnership with DataKind, a non-profit committed to helping social justice leaders use data to increase their impact, John Jay College is taking an innovative approach to improving student graduation rates through the use of data and analytics.

Using 10 years of historical student data, the project, which was sponsored by the MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth and supported by the Robin Hood Foundation, aims to help John Jay advisors identify students who are at risk of dropping out or taking over four years to graduate. The hope is that this data can help advisors prioritize intervention services for students at risk of not finishing their degrees.

Across the country, college graduation rates are disproportionately low among low-income students. Dara N. Byrne, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Retention and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, believes that Datakind’s research will be invaluable to supporting John Jay students, especially those from low-income backgrounds. “The lower the income, the more likely you are to be impacted by that burden of how to afford all aspects of college,” Byrne says. “The tool is allowing us to see trends and patterns and help us to rethink our approaches earlier.”

In an exploratory analysis of the 10-year data, the Datakind team was able to find which factors are associated with a student’s decision to leave school before finishing their degree. The team also created two sets of models designed to predict the likelihood that a student would graduate within four semesters after completing 90+ credits of coursework, once they are already in their late junior or senior year. The models predicted within a 70 to 90 percent accuracy whether students would graduate.

“The more we engage with the opportunities and data skills that were provided by this project, the more it allows us to do more with our students around academic skills and job preparedness,” says Byrne. “I am very hopeful about what this will mean in terms of preparing young people for the future.”

Read more about the project here.

This spring, John Jay students presented original research and projects to fellow students, faculty, and the general public as part of the annual Research and Creativity Week. From April 30 to May 4, 355 undergraduate and graduate students from 25 areas of study participated.

Presenters included students in the Honors Program, the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM), Macaulay Honors College, the McNair Scholars Program, and Student Academic Success Programs (SASP), as well as students completing their capstone courses in the Criminal Justice and International Criminal Justice majors. Also included were the departments of Public Management, Psychology, and English. A total of 163 faculty members served as mentors for student projects.

Bettina Muenster, Assistant Director of the Office for Student Research & Creativity, helps organize Research and Creativity Week. As always, she was impressed by the students who participated. “This year’s Research & Creativity Week has once again been an enormous success and demonstrated the indisputable power of intense student-faculty research collaborations,” said Muenster.

This year’s projects were diverse in topic and form. While Karen Argueta presented a storytelling podcast she helps produce at John Jay, Joseph Mahmud presented an app that he and students Steven Pacheco and Donauta Watson-Starcevic created to help formerly incarcerated individuals find jobs. For their innovative app, Mahmud and his team were recently named the winners of the Echoing Green Social Impact Challenge.

On May 3, Dr. Guillermo Linares, Acting President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, visited the Honors Program poster session. The posted session showcased Honors students’ scholarship and creativity across various disciplines. Dr. Linares, who oversees financial aid for higher education in New York State, was able to witness some of the unique and remarkable research conducted by John Jay students.

PRISM students also showcased their research presentations in forensic science, toxicology, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, environmental science, and computer science. Lisset Duran, who has conducted award-winning research on the genetics of breast cancer and who will be attending Princeton as a Ph.D. candidate this fall, presented her findings at the PRISM symposium as this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher.

On May 4, to conclude the weeklong fair, students were given awards for top ePortfolios. EPortfolios are student digital archives that document learning and spotlight achievements in and out of the classroom. You can view the list of award-winning portfolios here.

By the end of the week, John Jay scholars who presented, many of whom are graduating this May, walked away with a sense of accomplishment. “Students were visibly beaming with excitement and energy,” said Muenster. “They eagerly shared their work, passions, and future aspirations as emerging scholars.”

On Wednesday, May 30, 2018, John Jay College of Criminal Justice held its largest graduation to date, with over 3,700 students receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the College’s 53rd Commencement ceremonies, held at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, Queens.

President Karol V. Mason led the ceremony for the first time and praised “this phenomenal group of students who are ready to effect change at the local, state, national and international levels. They are fierce advocates for justice, and they are ready to take the reins.”  

Today, the College awarded 3,110 bachelor’s degrees and 607 master’s degrees. The class included 178 military veterans and the first graduate of the Prison to College Pipeline (P2CP) Program. The students ranged in age from 19 to 74, with six pairs of siblings and two sets of twins.

Eleven students enrolled in the College’s Accelerate, Complete and Engage (ACE) program as freshmen three years ago graduated earlier than expected and plan to enter the fields of law, healthcare and public service. ACE is a comprehensive program designed to dramatically raise graduation rates and help young people reach their full potential.

Valedictorian Veronika Lizarv, a Forensic Psychology major from Brooklyn, NY, with a 4.0 GPA, led the graduating class. Her twin sister graduated last year with a John Jay degree in Forensic Psychology. View snapshots of a few members of the Class of 2018.

In addition to awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees, President Mason presented two honorary doctorates. At the 10:30 A.M. ceremony, Ronald V. Clarke, one of the most important figures in criminal justice research, who helped transform the study of criminology, received an honorary Doctor of Science degree. At the 3:30 P.M ceremony, Rashida Manjoo, was honored with a Doctorate of Humane letters for her work as an international human rights advocate working to establish women’s rights as human rights.

Clarke reshaped crime prevention strategies worldwide with his work on situational crime prevention (SCP). Over the past 25 years, this concept has helped lead to significant crime reduction in New York City, the United States and other nations. Clarke is a University Professor at the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice and the associate director of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. In 2015, he received the prestigious Stockholm Prize in Criminology.

Manjoo, who was the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women from 2009 to 2015, was a trailblazer in the fight for a binding global treaty to recognize extreme domestic violence against women as a human rights violation. She was also an anti-Apartheid activist and women’s liberation campaigner in South Africa and served as the former Parliamentary Commissioner of the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) of South Africa. She is currently the co-convenor of the Human Rights Program within the Law Faculty at the University of Cape Town. 

About John Jay College of Criminal Justice:
An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York is a Hispanic Serving Institution and Minority Serving Institution offering a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. John Jay is home to faculty and research centers at the forefront of researching and advancing criminal and social justice reform. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College engages the theme of justice and explores fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.

John Jay’s President Karol V. Mason was a featured speaker for the The Aspen Institute’s Conversations with Great Leaders Series, which was created in memory of esteemed businessman and philanthropist Preston Robert Tisch. The Aspen Institute, an education and policy studies organization, smartly chose Mason based on the talk’s theme, “To Form a More Perfect Union: Reforming the Criminal Justice System.”

Sitting in New York’s historic Roosevelt House, with an audience filled with John Jay students, faculty and staff, along with community leaders and local residents, Linda Lehrer, The Aspen Institute’s Director of New York Public Programs, kicked off the event. “The criminal justice system is not just about prisons, laws and those who break laws. It’s about race and opportunity—or lack there of,” said Lehrer. “It’s about injustice imbedded in the social structure. And, it’s about the kind of future we want for our community and democracy.” Then she invited Mason and Lauren-Brooke Eisen, a Brennan Center for Justice Senior Fellow, to dive deep into the problems and solutions surrounding our criminal justice system.

Reality on Race
Straightforward and compassionate, Mason didn’t pull any punches. “We can’t talk about these issues without talking about race. We’ve got to have real dialog, real conversations, and really listen to each other, and understand how our history has placed us in the situation where we are today,” said Mason. “I don't believe in people being criminalized for being young people. We've all made mistakes, it's part of adolescent development. The problem is, we give some young people the room to make mistakes, but we don't give black and brown children the room to make mistakes.”  

Staying Hopeful
When Eisen marveled at her unjaded perspective—even after years of working on criminal justice reform—Mason asked the John Jay students in the audience to stand up. “They’re the reason why I’m hopeful,” said Mason. “It is John Jay College of Criminal Justice, but it's a liberal arts institution. We've got lots of different majors in the house with us today. But they're all going to go out into the world with that understanding [of justice] and foundation of community.”

Effecting Change
When Eisen asked her, “What steps can we take to make the world a better place in the justice system?” Mason focused on where real change can occur. “What we all need to recognize is that most criminal justice issues are at the state and local level, not federal,” she said. “I used to say in the Obama administration, the bad news is, there's a limit to what the federal government can do. Today, I say the good news is, there's a limit to what the federal government can do.” Mason also encouraged people to avoid the rhetoric, noting that criminal justice reform was a bipartisan issue. “The Koch brothers are just as committed to this work as all of us in this room,” she said. “It’s the notion that this country is built on fairness and opportunity, and people committed to that are across the political spectrum.”

Money Talks
Both Eisen and Mason talked about the staggering amounts of money going into the criminal justice system—80 billion dollars a year incarcerating people in the United States. And Mason asked the audience a question, “Do you know what we could do with 80 billion dollars? We could send every child to pre-K. There are so many things we could do with that money better than incarcerating people.” Mason continued saying she didn’t really care why people came to the issue of criminal justice reform—be it the expense, moral or religious concerns—as long as they acknowledge that there’s a problem and they want to help correct it. “We need to invest in our young people so they don't get caught in the criminal justice system. We need to be investing in education. We need to be investing in opportunity,” said Mason. “And when I say investing, I mean investing in our most challenged young people, who are our hope and our future.”

Click here to see the full conversation.

Alumna Tamykah Anthony-Marston has become a successful scientist since graduating from John Jay in 2015. She’s also a testament to the fact that you don’t need to be a superhero to achieve your wildest dreams.

Anthony-Marston, who was born on the small island of Saint Vincent, has known what she’s wanted to do with her life ever since she first learned the term "scientist" after arriving to the states in fourth grade. But her path to success wasn’t without its challenges. She was admitted to foster care and became pregnant in her teenage years, which put her dream of becoming a scientist on hold. Eventually, she enrolled in John Jay’s Forensic Science program, but during her third year of the program, she became pregnant again.

By then, Anthony-Marston was on the Dean’s List and was one of the first John Jay students to receive a research prize at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) conference. Nothing could stop her from completing her degree. “I knew I needed to graduate on time because I already made it this far,” she said. “I was at St. Luke’s hospital and I was supposed to be on bedrest, but I would sneak out to class with my IV bags.”

That fierce determination paid off. Using the knowledge she learned through her concentration in toxicology, Anthony-Marston soon developed a line of natural products called Xanthines, which she created as an alternative to harmful cancer-causing products. “I started going back to my John Jay textbooks to learn about pHs, and I created my first natural deodorant,” she says. Xanthines has been so successful that it now carries 24 products in its line.

But while Tamykah enjoys making natural products, her passion has always been working with children. On weekends, she hosts science workshops at the Seneca Village Montessori School in Brooklyn for children and their family members. When she saw how popular the Black Panther film was this February, she decided to launch Camp Wakanda over spring break, where she taught students that they could be superheroes by using science. “I’d tell the students they could make things move without touching them. It’s called the superpower of static electricity,” says Anthony-Marston.

With its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum, the weeklong camp covered not only science, but a variety of subjects. From culinary demonstrations to hip-hop classes taught by a member of the Bronx-based group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Camp Wakanda taught students new skills and nourished existing passions. “The goal was to teach these kids that they’re already super powerful, and to also help them redefine what it means to be a superhero,” says Anthony-Marston. “Being a superhero isn’t about what you can do, but something that’s inside of you.”
 

Students learn forensic science, including how to dust for fingerprints using cocoa powder

Camp Wakanda was so successful that Anthony-Marston is now hosting a summer long version of the camp at sites in both Brooklyn and Queens. Her goal is to impact 10,000 children by the end of the year.

For Anthony-Marston, who grew up in Brownsville and has experienced the challenge of being a black scientist in a predominantly white field, it’s important to provide these educational opportunities to students who otherwise might not have them. To her, all that any child needs to succeed is for someone to show them that they, like Black Panther, can be superheroes, too.

“In Black Panther, Killmonger wasn’t really a villain,” says Anthony-Marston. “It was just that he was unloved. Similarly, in real life, someone will only do bad because they don’t yet know their value. But once they know their value, they’ll cherish it. All you have to do is show them how dope they are.”
 

A couple of years after David Brotherton first arrived to John Jay in 1994, he received a curious invitation from Professor Luis Barrios to visit the church where Barrios preached uptown. It was at Barrios’ Episcopalian church that Brotherton, who had done research on gangs in California, first met Latin King leader Antonio Fernandez, a.k.a. King Tone.

“We want to change the world,” King Tone told Brotherton. “What do you want?” Brotherton responded: “I want to write your story.”

That was the beginning of a years-long relationship between Brotherton and the Latin Kings that would eventually culminate in the book Gangs and Society: Alternative Perspectives, edited by Louis Kontos, David C. Brotherton, and Luis Barrios. During that time, Brotherton hosted the first major gang conference since the 60s, here at John Jay, to help further understanding of what street gangs actually did.

“These guys produced music, spoken word, dances,” says Brotherton. “You couldn’t call them a gang, so we had another term, ‘street organization.’ If you look at it from a different angle, it’s not just violence and guns. It’s a culture. These guys were fighting back against their marginalization and the only way they knew how is through this culture.”

Brotherton continued to work with the Latin Kings and even traveled to Ecuador to document the effects of Ecuador’s legalization of gangs—an effort that contributed to an astonishing drop in homicide rates. But by the early 2000s, Brotherton became interested in another problem: thousands of people in New York, many in the Washington Heights area, were being deported. From 2002 to 2003, Brotherton moved to the Dominican Republic to find out what was happening, and held the first conference on deportees in the Caribbean with an attendance of 1,200 people from several countries. It was an eye-opening experience.

“Most of these deportees were completely assimilated, total New Yorkers,” says Brotherton. “But they were raised during the crack era and got into the mix somewhere along the line, and then the laws became harsher and harsher. It wasn’t that they were so horrible. It was that we became more and more punitive.”

Now, Brotherton’s newest book, Immigration Policy in the Age of Punishment, examines the different aspects of deportation, which he says make up a larger deportation regime. “ICE, detention camps, the court system—it’s all interconnected,” he says. “But from a sociological standpoint, how does it fit together? We still don't know.”

To answer that question, Brotherton created a group at John Jay and the CUNY Graduate Center called the Social Anatomy of a Deportation Regime, made of up several workgroups that look at the different aspects of deportation. At John Jay, this work is particularly relevant. “Deportation in America is totally involved in criminal justice,” Brotherton says. “Many cases that should be purely administrative are now completely mixed up in the criminal justice process.”

For a college with a diverse student population, some of whom are targeted by punitive deportation laws, investigating immigration policy and deportation is especially important. “Students or their family members are personally under threat,” Brotherton says. “If you look at deportation laws, they draw from a racially exclusionary history and use language from the Indian Removal Act and the Runaway Slaves Act. Our detention laws are similar to the Japanese detention laws of the 1930s. As a Hispanic Serving Institute, we need to know those histories and how the continuities of those histories are now playing out in a different era.”

On June 1^st, John Jay’s 2018 student council members were officially sworn in by President Karol V. Mason. Everyone on the team is excited for the coming academic year, and each of them has specific goals for the College, the faculty, and their fellow students. We chatted with a few of them to learn more about their backgrounds and aspirations.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Unorthodox. Ever since my childhood days, I’ve had a tendency to critically analyze situations before deciding how to move forward. I take great pride in my identity, and I plan to critically analyze the identity of our students and our institution to inform the way I carry myself throughout this term. —Steven Pacheco, President, Major: Social Thought and Marketing Management (CUNY BA)

My style of leading is through serving. The best leader is one who is able to talk with their feet and work with their peers.—Elijah Font, Graduate Representative, Concentrations: Criminal Law & Procedure, Criminology & Deviance

I am a listener, an observer and a hands on leader.—Jacqueline Aguilar, Undergraduate Student Senate John Jay Delegate, Major: Public Administration

What are some of your main goals for the coming year?

I'm hoping to implement a senior week where students can celebrate their accomplishments with many different engaging activities—a carnival, a barbecue, an exciting service activity, a senior class trip, and some throwback days.—Jasmine Awad, Senior Representative, Major: Criminal Justice 

I’d like to encourage students to get involved with committees, as well as getting involved on campus. That, and just having lots of events with good food.—John Ilawan, Junior Representative, Majors: Criminal Justice, Humanities and Justice

I want to ensure that John Jay students feel like their elected representatives have their backs.—Elisa Crespo, University Student Senate Delegate, College Council-at-Large, Major: Political Science

What are you most exited about being on student council?

I am really excited about our new team. I loved working in council last year, but I also really appreciate a change of pace. I think we have a very dynamic and diverse set of representatives this year.—Andrew Bandini, Secretary, Major: Law & Society

I'm most excited to work with the awesome John Jay faculty and staff. At our swearing-in ceremony, I became aware of the various staff support, from Dara Bryne in Student Affairs, to Allison Pease in the English Department.— Deandra Simon, Senior Representative, Major: English

I want to become more familiarized with the intersection of John Jay’s mission and the diversity at John Jay—whether it’s in our curriculum, scholarships, extra-curricular clubs, or within the faculty, administration, and staff.—Musarrat “Mus” Lamia, Junior Representative, Major: Political Science

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I am grateful for the upcoming Immigrant Student Success Center that will open at John Jay College. As an immigrant who came from Russia nine years ago, I know that it is crucial to support our students and provide a safe environment.—Elza Kochueva, Vice President, Major: Law and Society 

I am Bangladeshi and a first-generation college student. I am currently President of the UNICEF Club here at Club Row. UNICEF is an acronym for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. We are working to help support and bring attention to worldly issues facing children.—Mahtab Khan, Senior Representative, Major: Political Science, Criminal Justice

This is my first time in student council. I am excited and blessed to be given the opportunity to represent my fellow students. If you see me, view me as your fellow peer and friend first.—Erik Perez, Sophomore Representative, Major: Political Science 

(from left to right) Distinguished Professor of History Gerald Markowitz, President Karol V. Mason, Producer of From the Ashes Sidney Beaumont, and Executive Producer of From the Ashes and Trustee of the John Jay College Foundation Katherine Oliver
 

On April 26, John Jay College of Criminal Justice hosted a screening and panel discussion on From the Ashes, a documentary about the devastating impact of the coal industry on communities across the country. The documentary, which premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival and on the National Geographic Channel, and was produced with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, has toured over a dozen cities around the world and has added a significant contribution to the global conversation on environmental justice. The screening at John Jay was followed by a discussion with Sidney Beaumont, Producer of From the Ashes, and Dr. Gerald Markowitz, Distinguished Professor Department of History at John Jay College, who has done extensive research on the impact of lead on communities of color. “It was great to see so many students in the audience for this important discussion on environmental justice,” says President Karol V.

Since graduating from John Jay, alumnus Aki Ashe has become a successful business owner through his fashion company Brooklyn United Ties. We sat down with Ashe to learn more about his journey and the pivotal lessons he learned along the way.

Motherly Advice
As a young African-American boy, Ashe learned that his appearance had the power to catapult his success. Ashe’s mother always told him, “When you’re a minority, perception is more important. You have to wear the appropriate clothes, so you’re not judged negatively.” His mother taught him how to dress smartly with complementary shirt, tie and jacket combinations. And, after absorbing his mother’s fashion advice, Ashe became an entrepreneur at 15, buying jeans and reselling them with his own handcrafted designs.

Lessons Learned
Ashe attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he majored in Public Administration and minored in Economics. “My education at John Jay helped me learn to be more disciplined. I had to get to my classes, do my homework and acquire enough credits to graduate,” says Ashe. After graduating from John Jay, Ashe attended Manhattan’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and took courses in: fashion design, importation, exportation, manufacturing, and international business.

Business Attire
After FIT, Ashe became hyper aware of his clothing choices and personal style. That’s why he sprung into action when he opened his tie drawer one morning and noticed that every tie was either overused, wrinkly or falling apart. He went to a retired seamstress and asked her if she could make him some ties. She agreed and Ashe picked the fabric and suggested his own design. When he wore his custom-made ties around family, friends and colleagues, Ashe received so many compliments that he decided to start his own business.

In Fashion
Ashe’s company Brooklyn United Ties customizes scarves and ties, and holds “Dress For Success Workshops” to help students look more polished and professional. “A tie is a symbol that captures a story, making it an experience within itself, like wearing a work of art or a piece of history,” says Ashe. The company also teaches college students how to write resumes and find appropriate hairstyles for interviews and work. “I see the mistakes that new grads make, dressing too casual for an interview. I want to teach them how to make a strong, impressive first impression.” Ashe aims to do a “Dress For Success” workshop at least once a month for college students.

Celebrating Black History Month offers us an important opportunity to recognize the many achievements and contributions that African Americans have made. It’s a time to honor African American leaders who had the courage to challenge inequities, strive for excellence under any circumstance, and blaze a trail for generations to come. In this article series, throughout February, we hope to educate, engage, and empower our community by learning more about the Black experience in America.

Xenia Machado, an ACE [Accelerate Complete Engage] Academic Advisor, knew she found her ideal job when she witnessed firsthand how deeply John Jay students embrace their different heritages. “As a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Minority-Serving Institution, John Jay College is no stranger to diverse cultures,” says Machado, who identifies as an African American woman of Jamaican and Cuban descent. “During my first week working here, I was so amazed at how much pride the students took in their cultural backgrounds, and remember thinking to myself, I am home.” Recently, Machado found herself scrolling through the Black Student Union’s Instagram page and it instantly made her smile seeing all the different ways the students were highlighting Black culture, history, and challenges on their social media platform. Growing up in Brooklyn, Machado says that it took her some time to truly understand and embrace her own Black identity. That’s why she was thrilled to see Black students at John Jay celebrate their identities. We sat down with Machado to get her perspective and thoughts on the importance of Black History Month.

February is Black History Month. What does it mean to you to celebrate the many achievements generations of African Americans have accomplished?
Celebrating the contributions of African Americans is very personal to me. I am a product of the African American pioneers’ many sacrifices, and without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. As cliche as it sounds, if you don’t know your past, you don’t know your future. Celebrating Black History Month is embracing where we started, and how far we’ve come as a collective group. It’s a reminder that there is still work to be done, and that I have a responsibility to continue this legacy of advancing my culture.

How do you celebrate Black History Month?
During Black History Month, I especially like to support Black-owned businesses in my local community and attend as many Black History Month events as I can. In support of Black health and wellness, this week I’ll be attending a yoga session with a Black-owned organization. I also look forward to attending some of the virtual Black History Month events John Jay is hosting this month.

What hopes do you have for the African American community, both at John Jay and in America?
My hope for the African American community is that we as a group continue to create healthy platforms to bring awareness to issues in the Black community, such as mental health and wellness, racial injustice, and systemic inequality. These dreams and aspirations are so important to achieve because our fight for liberation isn’t over yet. I’m so grateful to be part of a culture filled with activists and creators who continue to use their spaces to do this.

What do you want people who are not Black to understand about African-American History?
I would like people to know that African American History is deeply rooted in the individual stories of Black people. Learning about our history opens the door to understanding Black people and our struggles. Embracing diversity creates unity amongst one another. This goes the same for other cultures’ history as well.

When you think of African American history, what makes you the proudest?
I’m the proudest of how far African Americans have come since the time of slavery. I’m part of a new generation of Black people who are unapologetic and unashamed to be Black. This is a new experience for me, as I once struggled to fully embrace my Black identity. When I think of things like the Crown Act, Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, and having a Black woman be Vice President, it makes me hopeful for the future. I am proud to be Black.

What African American leader would you say has made the biggest impact on your life and why?
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has had the biggest impact on me and my aspiration to work with college students. I identify as a first-generation college graduate and I often faced challenges throughout my college journey. Without the support of my school counselors and academic advisors, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am now. I’ve always been passionate about working in education to help students overcome barriers and gaps toward their degree attainment, and I was inspired to continue this work with Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative. I was first introduced to the Reach Higher Initiative while interning at a non-profit organization’s National College Signing Day event. Michelle Obama’s national support for school counselors and college access staff helped make the dream of completing college a reality for many high school students. I’m continuously motivated to do the same with my students at John Jay.

If you could talk to Michelle Obama, what would you ask her?
I’d like to ask Michelle Obama about what motivates her to continue moving forward when she feels defeated or discouraged? I’d ask her that question because for many people of color our seat is not always welcomed at the larger table, which can be discouraging. Michelle Obama is someone who had to face much rejection before she reached the peak of her success. It would be interesting to see how she did this.

Celebrating Black History Month offers us an important opportunity to recognize the many achievements and contributions that African Americans have made. It’s a time to honor African American leaders who had the courage to challenge inequities, strive for excellence under any circumstance, and blaze a trail for generations to come. In this article series, throughout February, we hope to educate, engage, and empower our community by learning more about the Black experience in America.

Sharmaine Smith ’25, a Forensic Psychology major from Harlem, New York, and a winner of this year’s Malcolm/King Award, is driven to provide hope and create options for system-impacted individuals reentering their communities. For Smith, the passion of uplifting the group is personal. “As a formerly incarcerated woman, who is in recovery from a substance use disorder, I know what it’s like to be counted out and not seen. But I also know what it’s like to overcome your obstacles, come back stronger, and ready to take on the world,” says Smith, encouraged by her journey of recovery and looking forward to the future. “I want to help formerly incarcerated people thrive as they make their way back to society. My plan is to be a proprietor of a transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated individuals. The program will offer job readiness and various resources and social services to assist them, help set them up for success, and decrease the rate of recidivism.”   

Smith admits the road for her hasn’t been easy, but when she looks at leaders in the African American community and at her own son, Avery, she’s inspired to take on any challenges that come her way in order to be an advocate for those in need. “Overcoming addiction was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. The turning point for me came about 10 years ago when my son was seven years old. I had been battling addiction for years and was away from him at the time. I called him and asked if he missed me, and he said he didn’t know. It was in that moment I knew I had to change my life and get clean if I wanted to be there for my son,” says Smith, moved by the memory. “Every day I wake up and push as hard as I can to be the person that I know I can be. To be someone that people, especially my son, can believe in. When I start to feel down, I look at those that came before me who overcame incredible obstacles, whether it was to fight for equality or for our rights as Americans, and I know that same strength, tenacity, and resiliency runs through my veins. I know I can be the best version of me.” We connected with Smith to learn more about her journey and what celebrating Black History Month means to her.

What drew you to John Jay College and how has the College’s diversity impacted your educational journey?
I’ve always wanted to go to John Jay. Growing up in Harlem, where I lived in public housing, John Jay College was a renowned institution. To us it was an icon and symbolized the best in public education. That is something I never lost sight of. Even in the midst of my addiction, I knew two things: that I was going to one day walk across a stage to take hold of my college diploma, and that the diploma would be from John Jay College. Once I became a non-traditional student at John Jay, I was so grateful for the opportunity to engage with classmates, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds and cultures. When you are part of a diverse community—whether its culturally and racially diverse, or diverse in age—I feel it enhances and enriches your learning experience. Already, I can see the positive impact the John Jay community is having on my educational journey.

How do you celebrate Black History Month?
I celebrate Black History Month every day of the year by providing others with literature to enhance their awareness of African American history and culture. It’s important to acknowledge the struggles and adversities faced by our people. I take great pride in remembering their incredible accomplishments and all the African American community has overcome. I’m so grateful for those that came before me who helped pave the way for so many. Given my own journey, I realize too that I am part of this continuing legacy. I am Black history in action, and I would love to give hope to others in our community.

What goals do you have for advancing equality and fairness for all people, especially African Americans?
Beyond helping uplift system-impacted individuals leaving the system, I want to help make a change in the criminal justice arena where African Americans may not get a fair shot at justice. I want to be a pioneer in changing the way the justice system looks at us. I would love to one day join the Pre-Arraignment Screening Unit as a Diversion Liaison where I can speak up for people of color who may feel like they don’t have a voice or who may not know how to use their voice to advocate for themselves when they enter the system.

When you think of African American history, what makes you feel the proudest?
The stories of resiliency have always had the most profound impact on me and make me feel so proud. The story of African Americans in this country is a story of survival, faith, strength, and resiliency. Despite the injustices, cruelties, and inequities we faced, we have survived and paved the way for others. You see that strength and resiliency passed down from generation to generation. I see it in my own story as a formerly incarcerated woman in recovery now on her way to earning her college degree. My goal is to make the world a better, fairer place for the next generation, for my son, and for those hoping to simply have a positive impact on the world.

Celebrating Black History Month offers us an important opportunity to recognize the many achievements and contributions that African Americans have made. It’s a time to honor African American leaders who had the courage to challenge inequities, strive for excellence under any circumstance, and blaze a trail for generations to come. In this article series, throughout February, we hope to educate, engage, and empower our community by learning more about the Black experience in America.

Bronx native Tyler Johnson ’22, a Humanities and Justice major, couldn’t be prouder of her African American heritage and the Civil Rights leaders whose footsteps she aims to follow. “Black people have been creators, innovators, and liberators,” she says. “We have been the blueprint for progress in America, helping to shape the political, cultural, and economic landscape of this country.” Johnson sat down with us to reflect on how African Americans continue to contribute to the success and progress of our nation.

February is Black History Month. What does it mean to you to celebrate the many achievements generations of African Americans have accomplished?
Simply being Black is a celebration within itself, but it is important to commemorate the generations prior to us because they’ve broken barriers and changed history for us, just as we will do for future generations. As a community, we have fought fiercely and bravely against so many odds. We have to recognize and reckon with the blood, sweat, and tears that have created our culture and existence.

What African American leaders have made the biggest impact on you?
I was blessed to have parents who know their history and culture, and share it with me. My mother would tell me stories about her protesting days, while my father told me about walking the famous “Million Man March” in Washington. I remember vividly when my parents made me watch Alex Haley’s Roots when I was in the eighth grade. It changed me. I started to notice the disparities and injustices in our society on a deeper level. I have them to thank for my fighting spirit. They ignited a spark in me.

What hopes do you have for the African American community?
One of my many aspirations for the African American community is the revival of Black Wall Street, which runs deeper than the suit and ties. The revival of Black Wall Street would help enhance and increase the success of current and future Black-owned businesses, as well as put the money back into Black communities. To fully invest in our community and business, we must have economical backing.

What do you want people who are not African American, or Black, to understand about African American History?
I think there is a misconception that African American history is all trauma-based and violent, but our ancestors created a culture from scratch. From cuisines to fashion, literature to sciences, African American history is rich and beautiful. African American history tells the story of a community that has survived against all odds. I have never seen a community escape genocide from all aspects, to then create survival tactics that involve the earth, mind, body, and soul as a means of existing.

If everything goes according to plan, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself having already graduated Fordham Law School and practicing either criminal or civil law. I also foresee myself traveling, experiencing different histories and different cultures. I have always been a learner; I love school and learning new things. Rwanda has always been a place of interest for me. I’m hoping to have a little vacation home there, while also helping in peace efforts and environmental infrastructure.

After receiving a nomination from Nasser J. Kazeminy, the Chairman of the Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS), John Jay College President Karol V. Mason has officially become a member of the EIHS Board of Directors. It’s an honor she never expected, but was thrilled to accept. “At least 33 percent of John Jay students identify themselves as immigrants,” says Mason. “These students are a vital part of our community and we have a commitment and responsibility to help them reach their academic and life dreams.” EIHS, like John Jay, celebrates the many contributions that immigrants and their children have made to our communities and our country. The Society also actively supports the immigrant community through scholarships, cultural events, and programming around the nation.

Mason, along with a host of faculty, staff, students, and generous donors including Kazeminy, came together to open John Jay’s Immigrant Student Success Center (ImSSC), the first of its kind in the CUNY system, created specifically to provide support to immigrant students and their families. “The John Jay Immigrant Student Success Center is one of the finest programs that EIHS has had the opportunity to be part of,” says Kazeminy. During one of his first visits to the College, Kazeminy had the chance to meet some of the students whose lives were positively impacted by the new ImSSC. “I was very moved by the students and their touching stories of struggle and success,” he says. “In addition, I was particularly impressed with President Mason’s passion to support immigrant students.” 

The Center’s official opening in 2018 marked a pivotal turning point for students at John Jay who were undocumented, had DACA, TPS, refugee status, or came from mixed-status families. Mason, Kazeminy, and the entire John Jay community were excited to offer these talented students a safe space where they could tap into the resources that they needed—be it legal assistance, help with DACA renewals, emergency funds, mental health counseling, supportive group meetings, job postings, or postgraduate opportunities.

“I’m an immigrant myself and I know how difficult it can be,” says Kazeminy. “We have kids coming to America, serving their country, working in health care, going to school, and paying their taxes. The fact that they’re living in fear is unfair and unjust.” His unwavering support for the ImSSC, John Jay’s immigrant students, and immigrants throughout our great nation, stems from his own guiding life principles—find your passion, be compassionate to others, and never let anyone else define you.