Major: Criminal Justice BS, Human Rights MA
Mentors: Criminal Justice Professor Joan Schwartz, Ph.D., Pre-Law Institute Director Elizabeth Broccoli
Programs: Pre-Law Institute (PLI)
Internships: Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Kingdom Law Firm
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Current Role: Child Protective Specialist, New York City Administration for Children Services
Career Aspiration: Civil Rights/Employment Attorney

What was life like before John Jay?
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York—specifically Bed-Stuy (Bedford-Stuyvesant)—in a single-parent household with three older siblings. My mom worked for the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) as a bus operator and I witnessed the financial burden she faced as a single parent raising four kids. Seeing what she went through made me understand the value of education and social mobility. It propelled me to pursue higher education and be the first in my family to graduate from college. I knew that having a degree would put me in a better position to help my family and others who were once in my shoes.

When did your passion for law begin?
My experiences with stop-and-frisk put a fire in me to make change for marginalized communities. In high school, I experienced multiple stop-and-frisk encounters with law enforcement. Once, when I was 15 years old and on my regular commute from Brooklyn to Martin Luther King High School in Manhattan, an officer yelled out to me, “Hey, you. Stop!” I was interrogated and pushed onto the hood of a patrol car. Another time I was shoved against a window. It happened repeatedly—sometimes just being questioned, other times there was physical contact.

Each time, even before I was stopped, I was policing my movements. I thought that if I didn’t appear suspicious or give them a reason to stop me, they wouldn’t. But I learned that they didn’t have to have a reason. During each interaction, I did everything I could to comply because I didn’t want it to cost me my life or put me in jail. I was still a child. It was very traumatic for me. It felt unfair and unconstitutional. I started to think that if I were an attorney, I’d be better able to address these unjust practices.

Why John Jay?
I chose John Jay because the College specializes in building advocates for justice. My passions were criminal justice and human rights and I could work toward degrees in those fields of study. I also loved how diverse John Jay is—you have professors who are practicing attorneys, working in law enforcement, and conducting innovative research. Their unique backgrounds and ability to bring real-life experiences into the classroom gave me a phenomenal education. The degrees I’ve earned helped me fulfill my desire to build equitable bridges for marginalized communities.

How was your internship with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation?
It was a fantastic internship. I wanted to gain more experience in compliance within the criminal legal system. The GBI is tasked with investigating the misconduct of law enforcement agencies in Georgia. It helped me, a person who was traumatized by stop-and-frisk interactions as a child, see the accountability side of law enforcement. I got the opportunity to review body cam footage, sit in on interviews, and witness the different logistics involved in the investigation process. I learned that I really enjoyed investigation work.

How did your internship connect you to your current job?
After learning how much I liked investigative work, I got a position with the New York City Administration for Children Services (ACS). As a Child Protective Specialist, I investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect. My degrees from John Jay and the GBI internship helped prepare me for this role. The education I received showed me how to approach these families with an unbiased perspective. Often, people are legally punished because they’re living in poverty. In my role with ACS, I not only investigate allegations, but I also offer assistance that families may not know is available to them. It’s rewarding when you can educate families and strengthen their overall dynamic. Ultimately, it’s about building stronger communities. 

In what ways have your mentors helped you during your time at John Jay?
I’ve applied to 10 law schools, and Elizabeth Broccoli from PLI has helped me every step of the way—reviewing my personal statement, suggesting changes to my resume, and alerting me to different fairs and LSAT programs. In Dr. Joan Schwartz’s criminal justice classroom, her lectures delved into the intersectionality between race and justice. She never shied away from tackling challenging subjects and would talk about her own experiences and career path to help illustrate what she was teaching us.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself practicing as a civil rights and employment attorney. I want to help people who were discriminated against, wrongfully terminated, or severely injured on the job. That would encompass everything, not just racism. I’d like to get justice for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and migrants. For me, it’s about protection for all, not a privileged few.