As a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), John Jay College continues to enrich the lives of our Latinx students by: creating a diverse and inclusive campus environment, closing in on the equity gap in degree attainment, and ensuring that our Latinx students are poised to achieve their goals. “At John Jay, we are laser focused on supporting the success of our students from traditionally underrepresented groups, including our Latinx, Dreamer, and immigrant students,” says John Jay President Karol V. Mason.

John Jay continues to make strides in making the College a space where Latinx students thrive by offering diverse programming, invaluable resources, and experiential learning opportunities that elevate the lives of our Latinx students. From ¡Adelante!, to the Diversity Pre-law Pipeline Program, to an expanded HSI pipeline for STEM education, it’s abundantly clear that John Jay College is an institution that strives to see its Latinx students reach their fullest potential.

Top 100 Colleges for Hispanics
Earlier this year, the College was recognized by Hispanic Outlook on Education magazine, ranking #1 in the nation for enrolling the most Latinx students for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Services degrees, #37 in its annual Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics for total bachelor’s degrees granted to Latinx students during the 2019-2020 academic year, and #65 in total enrollment of Latinx students. The College’s welcoming, open, and collaborative environment, coupled with its celebration of culture and diversity, is what makes it a standout to Latinx students, like George Aponte ’25 and Serena Astudillo ’22, who were looking for an educational experience that’s validating, uplifting, and feels like home.

Aponte, a first-year student and proud Mexican-American, knew that John Jay’s Latinx community would provide him with a space where he could feel supported, seen, and valued. “Knowing John Jay is an HSI made my coming to the College a more comfortable experience. During the college search process, I noticed that a lot of the institutions I was reading up on were really lacking in diversity,” he says. “John Jay’s diversity really stood out to me. I see diversity as an asset, it is a beautiful thing. Learning with people from different backgrounds and cultures makes for a more enriching, interesting, and exciting learning experience.”

Once Latinx students become members of the John Jay community, they’re immediately offered opportunities that deepen their understanding of Latinx culture and contributions. Astudillo, a graduating senior, ¡Adelante! student, and proud Colombian-Puerto Rican, jumped at the chance to engage with elected officials during the College’s HSI Leadership Conversation series—serving on a panel with Latinx public officials such as New York City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, New York State Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz ’05, and U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat. “When you’re in a room speaking with someone who is in office or in a position of power, and they look like you, sound like you, or have a similar story to yours, that’s incredibly empowering,” says Astudillo, who hopes to become a lawyer one day. “We need different voices and points of view in the room to help create the change needed to uplift our communities. Policymakers need to look like the demographic of this country. I hope to one day be in the room creating that positive change.”

HSI Pipeline for STEM Education
After recently being awarded a $4.77 million grant over five years by the U.S. Department of Education, John Jay College will expand a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) pipeline for Latinx students coming from two CUNY community colleges—Queensborough Community College and Borough of Manhattan Community College—to John Jay. The program’s goal is to increase recruitment, retention, and graduation rates for Latinx students studying the STEM fields, and support them on their path to successful careers. Alumni Eugene Gonzalez-Lopez, Ph.D., ’12, ’14, and Alejandro Ocampo ’20, are proof-positive that STEM programming at John Jay not only works, but they also drive social mobility upward for Latinx students. Each credits the curriculum and the support they received in John Jay’s STEM classrooms and Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM) with enabling them to overcome their self-doubts, handle academic challenges, and achieve their dreams.

Gonzalez-Lopez, who grew up in Bushwick, Brooklyn when it was riddled with drugs and violence in the early ’90s, credits John Jay’s SEEK and PRISM programs with getting him out of homelessness and enabling him to earn a Ph.D. from Penn State College of Medicine. “When I first came to John Jay College, I was actually living in a shelter and didn’t have any money for books, I didn’t have anything,” recalls Gonzalez-Lopez who turned to his SEEK advisor, Carmen Solis, Ph.D., for guidance. “She walked me to the bookstore and bought me the chemistry books that I needed.” With books in hand, Gonzalez-Lopez was able to immerse himself in his science courses which led directly to his conducting research with Associate Professor Shu-Yuan Cheng, Ph.D., in the Department of Sciences, and eventually to the PRISM program. “Everybody knows about the PRISM program. If you’re doing research, you need PRISM. They’re going to give you both support and professional development.”

Now in his second year in a master’s degree program in Biomedical Science at Stony Brook University, Ocampo credits John Jay and PRISM with putting him on a path to success that he never imagined was possible. “My going to graduate school is a direct result of my time at John Jay and PRISM. They changed the course of my life. Without John Jay and the PRISM program I wouldn’t be where I am today,” says Ocampo. “When I think back to where I was a few years ago—a TSA agent who didn’t think college was for me—I would have never imagined this kind of future for myself. John Jay and PRISM gave me a solid foundation, the education, and the principles to work at such a high level.”

Fulbright HSI Leaders
The College’s dedication to its Latinx students was also recognized by the Fulbright Program, which has named John Jay College a 2021 HSI Leader—making the College one of just 35 HSI institutions recognized for its commitment to providing Latinx students with opportunities that enhance their educational experiences. Through the Fulbright program, students, scholars, and professionals, have the opportunity to study, exchange ideas, conduct research, and find solutions to challenges worldwide.

As a man of color, Charles Davidson, Ph.D., Director of the College’s Pre-Law Institute and Center for Post-Graduate Opportunities, knows just how important exposure to foreign countries and cultures can be to underrepresented communities. “International experiences have played a huge role in my becoming the person I am today, but far too many Black and Brown students never have that opportunity or even think about it,” says Davidson, who is also the Fulbright Program Advisor. “For several years, we have worked hard to showcase the Fulbright program and prepare students to apply. We are honored to be recognized for our efforts.”