Graduating Honors student and Pinkerton Community Fellow Jesse Funtleyder ’21 perfectly embodies the spirit of public service. He’s selfless, generous with his time, and always willing to lend a helping hand. So, when CUNY Service Corps presented him with the opportunity to rebuild homes in Puerto Rico following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, he jumped at the chance. “I wanted to give the people on the island hope. I wanted them to know that things will get better,” says Funtleyder, who is graduating with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. His desire to uplift the Puerto Rican people came from his own experience with a natural disaster in 2012. “Hurricane Sandy completely ravaged my home in Queens, New York, and uprooted our lives. Our family of seven had to evacuate, I had to change schools, and we ended up living in my aunt’s one-bedroom house for several months,” he says. “Experiencing Hurricane Sandy taught me firsthand the kind of impact an event like a natural disaster can have. But it also taught me how with a little help, you can come out stronger on the other side.”
The experience also proved to be a breakthrough for Funtleyder, fortifying his commitment to public service and his aspiration to become a mental health counselor. “I want to do everything in my power to support others. That’s why I wanted to come to John Jay, because I wanted to pursue a career as an advocate,” he says. “I want to help at-risk youths, victims of crimes, and individuals impacted by the justice system. Assisting them will not only make their lives better, but it will also have a positive impact on their community and make a difference in the world.”
“I want to do everything in my power to support others. That’s why I wanted to come to John Jay, because I wanted to pursue a career as an advocate.” —Jesse Funtleyder
Choosing John Jay
In high school, Funtleyder became increasingly fascinated by the study of human behavior and decided to take a number of AP Psychology courses. One course, a Criminal Justice and Psychology elective, would cement his passion for both fields. “The course strengthened my interest in psychology and highlighted its connection to the criminal justice system, particularly deviant behavior’s role in criminality,” says Funtleyder, adding that his goal at the time was to be a psychologist for the FBI. “As I continued to research the Forensic Psychology field and possible career paths within the Criminal Justice system, I knew John Jay College was the place for me.” At John Jay, his passion and desire to positively impact others through his work only grew deeper. “I've studied theories of personality, and developmental, abnormal, cognitive, and social psychology. Each undergrad and master’s degree course has further prepared me for my future,” he says.
“I knew firsthand the devastating impact a natural disaster can have on someone’s life, and as a Puerto Rican who has family on the island, I wanted to do everything I could to help them rise up from Hurricanes Irma and Maria stronger.” —Jesse Funtleyder
Mentoring His Peers
Putting what he learned in his John Jay classes to practice, Funtleyder worked as a SASP Peer Success Coach where he was able to support his fellow John Jay peers, hear their concerns, learn about their struggles, and offer advice and guidance. “As a peer success coach, I worked with 49 students during their freshman year. Some were working multiple jobs to support their families, others were dealing with mental and physical health challenges, verbal and physical abuse, and food insecurity,” he explains. “Every day that I worked as a Peer Success Coach, I made it my goal to provide my students with direct access to the resources they needed. I wanted to see each of them succeed and prosper. This experience made me realize how passionate I am about working one-on-one as a counselor and my goals shifted to counseling people individually.”
Helping the World
While mentoring his peers was a fulfilling experience for Funtleyder, when recounting his most memorable moments while at John Jay, he can’t help but smile discussing his CUNY Service Corps trip to Puerto Rico. “It was an opportunity that Ms. Litna McNickle in the Honors Program suggested I take part in, and I’m so glad I did because it was the single most priceless and fulfilling thing I’ve ever done in my life,” he says. “I knew firsthand the devastating impact a natural disaster can have on someone’s life, and as a Puerto Rican who has family on the island, I wanted to do everything I could to help them rise up from Hurricanes Irma and Maria stronger,” he says. Over the course of two weeks, Funtleyder helped rebuild roofs that were destroyed during the storms, reinforced foundations, removed mold and mildew, and cleared debris. “Helping the people on the island overcome the devastating effects of both hurricanes really became my passion. I worked harder than ever before while I was in Puerto Rico, but the experience felt like a real gift to me. Not only was I able to help them rebuild their homes, and restore agricultural spaces and El Yunque National Forest, but I also received so much more in return. I was able to learn from the people, became a stronger person, and made lifetime friendships.”
“As a fierce advocate for social justice, a John Jay alumnus, and future mental health counselor, I will proudly serve those who are often overlooked and underserved.” —Jesse Funtleyder
Creating a Better Future
Acting as a voice for those who may feel unheard, Funtleyder is currently helping empower formerly incarcerated individuals while working as a Pinkerton Fellow at The Fortune Society. “I’ve always wondered, who is there to help the victim or the ‘offender’ after ‘justice’ is served. At John Jay, I realized that the answer was me. I’m here to help.” At The Fortune Society, Funtleyder provides emotional, professional development and educational support, and also helps individuals reentering society by facilitating workshops, performing psychological assessment procedures, and conducting case management. “My goal is to help these individuals turn their lives around for the better. I want them to see their full potential, and I want them to feel confident enough to proudly show their true potential to the world.”
Envisioning his own future, Funtleyder sees himself providing forensic mental health counseling services to individuals that need help and care the most. He also hopes to direct a nonprofit or advocacy group for marginalized communities across New York City. “As a fierce advocate for social justice, a John Jay alumnus, and future mental health counselor, I will proudly serve those who are often overlooked and underserved,” says Funtleyder. “And I’ll do my best to serve them with the same level of care, respect, dedication, and support I received at John Jay.”
