Murder case behind POSTMAN

ALUMNI VOICES

Apollonia Moriarty (JJ '14, Center for Victimization and Safety '13-'14) is living the dream: traveling around the world. Read her insightful blog about her adventures here.

Nico Montano, (JJ/CUNY BA '13, Common Justice '12-'13), is a Marshall scholar studying this year in London. He is also a fantastic photographer. Check out his blog to follow his gorgeous photos and his powerful reflections.

Robert Riggs has recently published an article, "From Punishment to Treatment: A Providers' Perspective on the Implementation of 2009 Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms in New York," that builds on research conducted during his internship with Vera and his work with his mentor, Jim Parsons. You can find it here.

News and Notes

Congratulations to Mentor of the Year Fred Patrick, Director of the Vera Institute's Center for Sentencing and Corrections. President Jeremy Travis presented the award.

Congratulations to Joe Deluca, JJ-Vera Fellow 2012-13. Joe was recently awarded a $3000 “Qualtrics Behavioral Research Grant” to study community attitudes toward people with mental illness and has been honored as a Dignity Recovery Center Fellow by the Mental Health Association of San Francisco and the California Mental Health Services Authority. He will be evaluating a community anti-stigma project. Way to go, Joe!

Congratulations to Nadiya Kostyuk, JJ-Vera Fellow 2010-11, a student in the Political Science/Public Policy PhD program at University of Michigan. Nadiya won a Diversity and Diplomacy Fellowship and will spend June in Europe. She has also been named as a Telluride Scholar. We are so proud of you, Nadiya!

Congratulations to Danyeli Rodriguez, JJ-Vera Fellow 2014-15, who won an Immigrant Justice Corps community fellowship. For the next two years, Danyeli will be working on a range of issues related to immigration justice. Congrats, Danyeli!

Congratulations to James Williams, JJ-Vera Fellow 2013-14, who will be an Urban Fellow starting in the fall. Way to go, James!

MAKE NEW FRIENDS...

The 2015-16 John Jay-Vera Fellows: Nancy Amin, John Fleurimond, Monnero Guervil, Jessica Jean, Marcus Johnson, Nicholas Lung, Gabriella Mungalsingh, Valfrie Plasencia, Jasmine Rasheed, and Andrene Wright. Welcome to the family!

BUT KEEP THE OLD...

This program thrives because of our fabulous mentors. Often the creativity and generosity that makes them excellent mentors facilitates their move to different jobs and projects. But once a mentor, always a mentor. Here's what some of our past mentors are up to now:

Tracy Barker [Esperanza] is now Special Assistant to the President and Executive Vice President of the Child Mind Institute.

Paula Calby [Safe Horizon] is currently a Special Advisor to Vulnerable Youth and Adults at the NYC department for Youth and Community Development.

Crystal Cotton [CJA] is the President of Crystal Clear Connextions, which runs workshops and seminars on human resources and staff development.

Trish Farley [Common Justice] is joining the mental health division as a clinician at the Division of Youth and Family Justice. She will be at the Crossroads juvenile detention facility in Brooklyn.

Thomas Giovanni [NDSH] is Executive Assistant for Government Policy for the Office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York.

Wren Longno [HSI] is the Director of Member Services for the Supportive Housing Network of New York. The Network provides public education, research and policy analysis, advocacy, training and technical assistance to the supportive housing community, government and the public at large.

Jessica Penaranda [Safe Horizon ATP] is starting at the Urban Justice Center, which provides direct legal service, advocacy, community education and political organizing to NYC's most vulnerable residents.

John Jay - Vera Alumni Association

See below to learn about where they are now and what they are doing. Fellows and Alums should feel free to contact one another about agencies, job opportunities, questions about grad school, or the fellowship itself. Alums please send information and updates to Professor Caroline Reitz at creitz@jjay.cuny.edu.

Sally Abdelghafar (VF '12-13, CUNY BA '13) [Safe Horizon] is a NYC Teaching Fellow, completing her Master's and teaching at Harvest Collegiate in NYC, where she is also serving as Interim Assistant Principal. Sally is the John Jay - Vera Fellow Alumni President.

Ruby Aguirre (VF '11-12, JJ '12) [JobPath] worked as a full-time support specialist at JobPath from 2012-15, where she interned as a Fellow. She is now a child advocacy coordinator at New York Presbyterian.

Gary Amores (VF '11-12, JJ '12) [CJA] is a ROR Interviewer for the New York Criminal Justice Agency, where he interned as a Fellow. He plans to get a Master's Degree in International Affairs.

Elizabeth Antola (VF '08-09, JJ '10) [CEO] is pursuing a Master's in Criminal Justice at John Jay.

Amanda Aponte Moses (VF '09-10, JJ '11) [Wildcat] interned at Thomson Reuters and the New York "Daily News." She is currently a staff reporter for the "Spring Creek Sun," a community newspaper in Brooklyn.

Kerry Ann Bailey (VF '08-09, JJ '10) [NDSH, Vera] will attend Hofstra law school in the fall of 2015.

Popy Begum (VF '11-12) [CASES] received her Master of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice Research Methods at Oxford University in the U. K. with distinction! Her research focused on human trafficking and forced marriages. She has recently started at job with the Osborne Association as a Re-Entry Specialist, working at Rikers.

Ridhi Berry (VF '08-09, JJ '10) [CJA, CEO].

Jamie Bridgewater (VF '10-11, JJ '12) [Safe Horizon] was a Steamboat Scholar during the summer of 2011 and was the winner of the Outstanding Graduate in English Award in 2012.

Katiria Casilla (VF '09-10, JJ '10) [Safe Horizon] graduated from Brooklyn College with a Master's in Political Science, Urban Policy and Public Administration. She is also working at Columbia University at the School of Nursing and Research.

Roberto Celestin (VF '11-12, JJ '12) [Common Justice] continued his work for Common Justice during the summer of 2012. He is currently attending Baruch College's MPA program with a focus on Public Policy and is an Assistant Supervisor for training in the office of Personnel Services for the Administration of Children Services.

Lisa Chan (VF '09-10, JJ '10) [HSI] is working as a counselor at the Lower East Side Service Center, a methadone-maintenance clinic. She plans to apply to law school.

Danielle D'antuono (VF '09-10, JJ BA/MA '10) [CEO] is Director of Consulting at Yurgorsky Consulting, which focuses on systems and analytics to make NPOs more efficient. She previously worked at CEO for several years after graduating from John Jay.

Joseph Deluca (VF '12-13) [Vera Institute of Justice] received his Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology at John Jay, and has been working as an Assistant Coordinator or the Peer Counseling Center. He is now a PhD candidate at John Jay.

Joseph Dunnigan (VF '10-11) [HSI] has accepted a position with the Criminal Justice Agency as an ROR interviewer.

Timothy Fowler (VF '11-12, JJ '13) [CEO].

Bekah Giacomantonio (VF '14-15) [DV-LEAP] is having a think about what's next, contemplating the Peace Corps or teaching English abroad.

Lauren Giles (VF '14-15, JJ '16) [CJA] is finishing her senior year at John Jay and serving as a Senior Peer in the Peer Counseling Program, as well as the President of Phi Eta Sigma. She was also recently named a Presidential Intern for 2015-16.

Christina Gonzales (VF '10-11, JJ '11) [CEO] is an activist in the campaign against Stop and Frisk and spent a semester of organizing protestors at Occupy Wall Street.

Brenda Gonzalez (VF '14-15, JJ '15) [Fedcap] will be attending the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, with a focus on Organizational Management and Leadership. She will also be working at Safe Horizon as a Case Manager.

David Guadeloupe (VF '12-13, JJ '13) [Esperanza] graduated from John Jay as a Political Science major. He is in his first year of law school at Western New England.

Elias Guevara (VF '09, JJ '11) [CEO], after a medical discharge from the U. S. Marines, finished his BA in Criminal Justice and Public Administration. He is working on his Master's in Public Administration at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Chad Infante (VF'10-11, CUNY BA '11) [CASES] worked at the Black Male Initiative at John Jay after graduation and is now on a full scholarship at Northwestern, pursuing a Ph. D. in literature.

Amanda Ingle (VF '08-09, JJ '09) [Project Renewal, HSI] received her MSW from Hunter. She is now working at the Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Practice flagship Manhattan office as a Forensic Social Worker.

Simonne Isaac (VF '13-14, JJ '15) [DV-LEAP] finished her English major at John Jay. She will attend Hofstra law school this fall.

Andre Jackson (VF '12-13) [HSI].

Nadiya Kostyuk (VF '10-11, JJ '11) [NDSH, LEAP] will be leaving her job as the Program Coordinator for the EastWest Institute's Cybersecurity Program, to pursue her PhD at the University of Michigan. It is a joint program in Political Science and Public Policy, with a focus on Cybersecurity. After graduating from John Jay, Nadiya got an MA in Political Science at New York University. Nadiya has recently won a Diversity and Diplomacy Fellowship and will spend the summer in Europe. She has also been named a Telluride Scholar at the U of Michigan.

Marina Kumskova (VF '14-15, JJ '15) [Vera/SUMH] will attend Columbia University in the Human Rights Studies Program.

Sylvie Lamah (VF '12-13, JJ '13) [CEO] graduated as the Outstanding Graduate of History this spring. She will start begin Columbia's MA program in East Asian Regional Studies in the fall.

Minerva Leonardo (VF '12-13, JJ '13) [LEAP] graduated as the Outstanding Graduate from Interdisciplinary Studies from John Jay and is hoping to work in the Dominican Republic.

Christine Leu (VF '11-12, JJ '13) [Esperanza].

Lenecia Lewis (VF '10-11, JJ '12) [Esperanza, Common Justice] will be attending the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, working on a dual M. A. in International Economics and Regional Studies (Middle Eastern concentration). She is also a Charles B. Rangel Fellow, which includes full tuition and stipend courtesy of the U.S. State Department. By the fall of 2015, Lenecia will be a U.S. diplomat.

Emile Lokenauth (VF '10, JJ'10) [The Guardianship Project] is planning to apply to graduate school.

Simon Lou (VF '11-'12, JJ '12) [Safe Horizon] is a graduate student in the PhD Program in Criminology at U of Maryland.

Greta Luback (VF '08-09, JJ '10) [Job Path, Project Renewal] won a Humanities and Justice award from Justice Studies. She is applying to graduate programs in Philosophy.

Kevin Lwango (VF '14-15, JJ '16) [Common Justice] will be a senior at John Jay and applying to grad school.

Dani Marr (VF '11-12, JJ '12) [HSI] graduated from Columbia University's School of Social Work this past spring.

Vaughn Mason (VF '09-10, JJ '10) [NDSH] received the Scholar-Athlete award from the Department of Health and Physical Education.

Nico Montano (VF '12-13, CUNY BA '13) [Common Justice] is a Marshall Scholar. He will be completing a Master's Degree at the University of Liverpool this spring and will then get a second Master's at the London School of Economics in 2014-15.

Marling Montenegro (VF '09-10, JJ MA '12) [CJA] received her Master's in Criminal Justice at John Jay. She is working in security at George Mason University.

Gina Moreno (VF '14-15, JJ '16) [Vera/Pathways] is interning this summer in the office of Council Member Mark Levine. Next year she will be a Tow Policy Advocacy Fellow.

Apollonia Moriarty (VF '13-14, JJ '14) [Center for Victimization and Safety] is exploring the world and thinking about grad school. Oh, and dismantling patriarchy. Go Apple!

Monica Cristina Murillo Parra (VF '14-15, JJ '16) [CASES] is working on her senior thesis at John Jay and thinking about grad school.

Cynthia Navarette (VF '11-12) [LEAP] will be joining the Marines and pursuing her law degree, with the intention of becoming an attorney or judge advocate with the Marines.

Alexander Nechayev (VF '10-11, JJ '11) [CJA].

Anthony Ortiz (VF '13-14, JJ '15) [CJA] will continue his studies at John Jay and his work at CJA.

Ana Paredes (VF '13-14, JJ'15/MA'15) [Esperanza] will be finishing her BA/MA in Forensic Psychology at John Jay this year.

Manuel Patino (VF '09-10, JJ '10) [Esperanza] won the prize for best Justice Studies thesis and worked full time as an education specialist for Esperanza until 2015. Manny is now a Case Manager in the Alternative Sentencing Department of the Queen's District Attorney's Office. He runs the Youth Diversion Program.

Renee Petrucelli (VF '08-09, JJ '09) [Wildcat, LEAP] is a graduate student in the Master's Program in Applied Community and Economic Development at Illinois State University.

Darakshan Raja (VF '08-'09, JJ '10) [Safe Horizon] is joining the Washington Peace Center as Program Manager/Organizing Fellow. She will continue her work with the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. on forced marriage and will serve on their advisory board.

Robert Riggs (VF '11-12, CUNY BA '12) [Vera Institute of Justice] is a McCracken Scholar in the NYU PhD Program in Sociology. As a McCracken Scholar, Robert is fully funded for his graduate work. Robert also won a three-year National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, with a $30,000 annual stipend. See "Alumni Voices" above for a link to his recent publication!

Jessica Rivera (VF '10-11, JJ '11) [Job Path] received her M. S. Ed in Higher Education Administration and now has a full time job at Bronx Community College as Assistant Registrar. She is considering law school, with a specialization in education and human rights.

Danyeli Rodriguez (VF '14-15, JJ '15) [Safe Horizon/Immigration Law Project] won an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellowship through 2017.

Ana Rojas (VF '09-10, JJ '10) [LEAP] won a Humanities and Justice award from the Justice Studies Department. Ana graduated from St. John's law school, passed the bar exams and is now an Assistant District Attorney in the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.

Michael Segnan (VF '13-14, JJ '14) [CEO] is thinking about graduate school in social policy research.

Katie Spoerer (VF '10-11, JJ '11) [Esperanza] left Senator Gillibrand's DC office in December and joined the office of her hometown representative Rhode Island Democrat David Cicilline.

Neethu Suresh (VF '09-10, JJ '10) [CASES] is studying to become a Registered Dietician.

Imtashal Tariq (VF '13-14, JJ'14) [Fedcap] continued her work at Fedcap this past summer and also worked as a research intern at Amnesty International. She is currently attend Cambridge University in England in the fall.

Jaraed Thomas (VF '13-14, JJ '15) [CASES] finished his Forensic Psychology degree at John Jay in 2015. He is now working as an Admissions and Communications Coordinator at the non-profit organization Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Michelle Tsang (VF '12-13, JJ '13) [Wildcat/Fedcap] worked after graduation as a Job Readiness Coordinator for Wildcat/Fedcap, where she interned while a Vera Fellow. She now attends Western New England School of Law and will begin a joint program with Social Work. She will graduate in 2018 with a JD and an MSW.

Arturo Urena (VF '14-15, JJ '16) [CEO] will be at John Jay, part of the CUNY Service Corps and a Senior Representative for Student Council.

Spencer Washington (VF '13-14, JJ '15) [Common Justice/CASES] finished up his Public Administration major at John Jay while serving as a Pinkerton fellow for 2014-15. Spencer will start as an Assistant Teacher at the Success Academy Charter School in the fall while also pursuing a Masters at Touro College.

Leena Widdi (VF '13-14, JJ '15) [Safe Horizon, Anti-Trafficking Program] will be finishing up at John Jay next year and preparing her application to law school.

James Williams (VF '13-14, JJ '15) [Vera Institute of Justice] finished his Public Administration degree at John Jay this year and will be an Urban Fellow for 2015-16.

Sydney Wood (VF '14-15, JJ '16) [JobPath] will continue working at JobPath while doing her Honors Thesis and working as a lead RA in Professor Kovera's lab.

John Jay - Vera Fellows Seminar

Friday, March 12, 2010