Major: Forensic Psychology
Minor: Law
Programs: John Jay Law Society Club
Mentors: Psychology Professor Deryn Strange, Ph.D.
Internships/Fellowships: New York Giants Touchdown Fellowship/Manhattan Justice Opportunities, Center for Justice Innovation
Hometown: Albany, NY
Career Aspiration: Therapist for Incarcerated Individuals and Criminal Defense Lawyer
What was life like before John Jay College?
Growing up in Albany, my parents worked as bartenders and often struggled financially. We lived in Section 8 Housing most of the time and often experienced housing insecurity. I witnessed a lot of chaos, criminal activity, drug abuse, and violence in the neighborhoods around me. Then, when I was 14 years old, I lost my mother to cancer. It was a very hard time for me and my family, and I ended up developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Feeling completely overwhelmed with sadness, I actually called the hospital and admitted myself. Luckily, I had the full support of my father and my sister, Cassandra. I received the mental health care I needed and the experience changed my life. I saw the necessity and value of mental health professionals. That life experience ignited a passion in me to change the way society views mental health and justice reform. It also taught me to never take a single day for granted.
What made you want to attend John Jay College?
All my life I grew up around the Albany capital region. The only reason I came down to the city was to attend John Jay—which was my dad’s dream school. He’d tell me all about this amazing school and his dreams of becoming a detective. I even had a picture of John Jay on my wall because he talked so positively about it. Over time, his dream school became mine.
How has your mentor put you on the path to success?
During my first semester at John Jay, I took Dr. Deryn Strange’s cognitive psychology class. I did my research on her before stepping into the classroom, and I was really impressed with her background. She had worked with the Innocence Project and was the President of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC). After that class, I started meeting with her regularly. When she asked me if I’d like to be an assistant in her research lab, I was so happy. In the lab, I got to work with one of her Ph.D. students, Chris Anderson, on research that analyzed the editing of body-worn camera footage. I learned that there’s a lot of editorialization in that process when the camera footage is supposed to be the clearest, most concise version of events for jurors. Elements like a voiceover can add something in people’s minds. I spent time coding the results of the research and found it fascinating.
When it came to grad school options, Dr. Strange helped me refine what programs best fit my career goals. With her guidance, I realized that I wanted to do work in the field. Now, I’m leaning toward earning my master’s degree in social work after John Jay.
How did you find the New York Giants Touchdown Fellowship and what made you want to apply?
Initially, I saw the Fellowship on John Jay’s Instagram page. I thought it was too good to be true because I’ve been a devout Giants fan since I was six years old. My dad and I would watch Giants’ games together and he’d explain to me what was going on with each play. My high school overturned a law that said girls couldn’t play on the field with boys, and I played as a defensive tackle, leading the team in sacks.
The New York Touchdown Fellowship incorporated so many things that I loved—football, the Giants, and criminal justice reform. Receiving this fellowship gave me and my family an amazing opportunity. The financial support—which helped me pay for my living expenses—and having a relationship with the Giants community changed my life in so many ways.
What was your New York Giants Touchdown Fellowship experience like?
Working at Manhattan Justice Opportunities (M.J.O.) has been a dream job. The organization works with prosecutors and the District Attorney’s office to allow individuals to complete programs—like therapy sessions or community service—to have charges expunged from their records. I’m very passionate about the current state of our correctional facilities and M.J.O. has been making positive changes through restorative justice. By working with them, I’ve seen how important it is to let people be heard instead of simply throwing them in the system, especially without addressing their underlying needs. Right after a court session, I was part of a team that would talk to the participant, tell them about M.J.O., and help get them set up in their new program. I also got to do research, help create databases, and write fact sheets to inform participants.
How has the New York Giants Touchdown Fellowship shaped your career goals?
I’ve met so many people at M.J.O. who are as passionate as I am about criminal justice reform. It’s furthered my resolve to become an advocate for prison reform, the implementation of a rehabilitation model, and having therapy inside correctional institutions. I even met someone at M.J.O. who earned their M.S.W. at Columbia—which is the school I’m hoping to attend after I graduate from John Jay. They took the time to sit down with me and talk about their work, education, interactions with participants, and views on restorative justice. It was like having the perfect blueprint for my future plans.
You met the New York Giants. What was that experience like?
The first time the fellows got to meet the team was at the training facility. I was on cloud nine the entire time. I walked past all the Lombardi trophies and they had all of our Giants Guest Passes hanging up and waiting for us. Everyone asked us about our internship experiences. I chatted with Ethan Medley (Giants Director of Community Relations and Youth Football) about my experience playing football and I showed him an album of my football videos. He was so impressed, he kept calling people over to see them.
A lot of amazing players—like Malik Nabers, Tommy DeVito, and Isaiah Simmons—signed my jersey, and all of the fellows got to go out on the field and watch the team practice. The following Sunday, they invited us to a New York Giants football game—my first ever in-person game—and I cried when I walked out on the field. My dad couldn’t go to the game with me because he had to work. I gave him the Sharpie the team used to sign my jersey, which made him really happy, and he promised to go to the next game with me no matter what.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope to have earned both my master’s degree in social work and my law degree. Right after getting my M.S.W., I’d like to work directly with incarcerated individuals. I hope to help them delve into their history in order to rehabilitate them and help them reenter society with a lower likelihood of re-committing an offense. After attending law school, I’d like to become a criminal defense lawyer. I want to help defend innocent individuals and also leverage my legal experience to push for meaningful criminal justice reform.
