NJCU Alumnus and Graduate Student Award Fellowship from Columbia University

JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) double alumnus Ross W. Brown ’11 (B.A. in Economics) '23 M.S. (Criminal Justice), has been selected for the Columbia University Center for Justice Beyond the Bars Fellowship for the 2023-24 academic year at the Columbia University School of Social Work Center for Justice. This fellowship is awarded to those who are interested in the criminal justice system and social policy change, especially those who come from underrepresented groups and have been affected by the justice system.

Brown recently completed an M.S. in Criminal Justice from NJCU in January 2023. The alumnus is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor-In-Training and Critical Criminologist and is presently seeking a third degree from NJCU — midway through completion of a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Brown said: “NJCU has been my home for all my higher education. I feel comfortable and welcomed here. The dedicated professors, such as Dr. Bill Calathes, truly assisted me in developing my academic abilities and my entire career outlook. The classroom discussions here have enabled me to grow both personally and academically, and I am grateful for that.”

Brown is a certified peer recovery support specialist and provides street outreach as a member of the Asbury Park Mayor's Wellness Committee and the Citizen's Advisory Committee of the New Jersey Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). He aspires to join a joint J.D./Ph.D. program and to enter academia.

To learn more about the 2023-24 Fellows, visit: https://centerforjustice.columbia.edu/content/beyond-bars-2023-24-fellows 

About NJCU: 
New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. In fact, NJCU has been ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and Top 10 in the nation in the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index for 2023. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.

—www.NJCU.edu—

Contact: 
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301