Starting college is an exciting time in anyone’s life. As our first-year students begin to take classes, participate in events, and join different student groups, we, the John Jay community, want them to feel welcomed, supported, and valued. Our First-Year Focus series will serve as a virtual introduction to some of the newest members of our John Jay family. As you’ll see throughout the series, these students are exceptionally talented, creative, and driven to change the world for the better. Enjoy getting to know them.

While he was on active duty with the U.S. Army, Sergeant Moses Negron ’21, a Criminal Justice major, came across a Facebook post from John Jay’s Office of Military and Veteran Services and quickly realized that John Jay’s veteran community was a supportive group that he wanted to join. “John Jay, in many ways, is the dream school for me because I want to have a career in law enforcement,” explains Negron, who went on to serve in the Infantry with a combat deployment to Afghanistan. “When I saw the Facebook post, I knew the program was not only great and informative, but it was also a big family where everyone looked out for one another and that’s something I really appreciated.” After receiving an honorable discharge, Negron, a combat veteran, immediately set his sights on John Jay. “The G.I. Bill enabled me to enroll in college, and while it took some time to get here, I’m glad to finally be at John Jay,” he says. “I want to bring about positive change within law enforcement. Given what we’ve witnessed in our communities, especially in the last few months, I’d love to play a role in transforming the system from within a law enforcement agency.” We spoke with Negron to learn more about his life before John Jay and how he hopes to change policing in America.  

Tell us about your life before John Jay. What was high school like for you?
I went to a great, but very expensive, Catholic high school in New Jersey. During my freshman year my dad left us, and I later found out that he never paid the school’s tuition bill; because of that I couldn’t get access to my transcript and couldn’t apply to college. So, there I was, an 18-year-old high school graduate who was $16 thousand in debt—because I still owed the tuition—and had no prospects for my future, because college was out of the question. But that was the card I was dealt in life, and I’m big believer in that you need to make the best with what life gives you.

Without viewing college as an immediate possibility, what did you do after high school?
I joined the National Guard and also worked a number of different jobs. I was an electrician for some time and delivered Amazon packages for the United States Postal Service. Then, when I turned 25, I realized that I was not where I wanted to be in my life, so I joined the U.S. Army. It was the best decision I ever made. The U.S. Army put me on the path to success. And, when I returned home, the first thing I did was use the G.I. Bill which created a pathway for me to go straight to college. I enrolled in BMCC (Borough of Manhattan Community College) first, and then after three semesters, transferred to John Jay because I knew that this was where I had to be to make my dreams come true, and I wanted to get here ASAP.

What was it about John Jay that made you want to come here?
John Jay is one of the best criminal justice schools in the country. As a student, you’re learning from professors who have infield experience and you’re connecting to leading professionals in the field. But what sealed the deal for me was the incredible Veterans program at the College. John Jay’s support for its veterans’ community is really incredible and it’s something that as a veteran, drew me to the College. Richard Pusateri, our Military and Veteran Services Manager, is really a great guy and it’s just incredible how determined he is to see us all succeed. He’s done a really amazing job of integrating me into the group. I feel like I’m part of the family. We get emails from him almost daily regarding alumni we can engage with, networking events, and internship and job opportunities. That kind of support is meaningful and I appreciate it a lot.

You began your classes at John Jay earlier this summer. How has the pandemic and distance learning impacted you?
I’ll be honest, I prefer the immediacy and back-and-forth banter you get with in-person classes. I like being able to ask a professor questions while they’re in the middle of their lesson. I do really well when I’m in the classroom, taking notes, and engaging with the professor in a face-to-face setting. Thankfully, I’m disciplined and don’t have a problem with the time management or accountability, so distance learning is not too bad. But I do perform better as a student when I’m in the classroom. I just study more to overcome this.

Are there any clubs that you’re hoping to join, or any particular opportunities you’re looking forward to experiencing this semester?  
I’m looking forward to being part of the Veterans Association at the College and can’t wait to meet my peers in person and take part in the veteran events. In terms of classes, I’m excited to take my core criminal justice courses, and also Philosophy and Law because I’m interested in possibly going to law school and joining the legal profession one day.

You’re interested in working in law enforcement and the legal profession. Can you tell us a bit about why those two fields interest you?
My mom has worked in law enforcement in New Jersey throughout her entire career and my best friend is a police officer. I know what good policing looks like and I’ve seen my fair share of poor policing. When you look at what’s happening across the country, it’s clear that there needs to be a change. No American citizen should fear for their own life when they’re interacting with the police. I want to see better policing in our communities. I’ve always said, be the change that you want to see in the world. So, in thinking about my future, whether I’m an officer or a lawyer, I want to change the system  from the inside and make it better.