Fall 2024 Advanced Students

^{Adriana was born and raised in San Jose. She is a first-generation college student majoring in Justice Studies with a concentration in criminology. Adriana will graduate in Fall 2024 and plans to attend law school. She ultimately hopes to become a progressive District Attorney, and then judge, who is focused on reform, prevention, and rehabilitation of people in the justice system, rather than primarily on punitive measures. Adriana hopes to use her Spanish language skills to help clients who do not speak English.}

^{Andrea is a first-generation Salvadoran-American college student from San Salvador, El Salvador. She is scheduled to graduate with a degree in Justice Studies with a concentration in Criminology in Spring 2025. After graduation, she plans to attend law school. Andrea joined the Record Clearance Project to deepen her understanding of how different communities have been impacted by the justice system. She is bilingual in Spanish and English.} 

^{Brian, born and raised in Oakland, California, Brian experienced firsthand the challenges of living in a low-income community. Originally a Psychology major, Brian later switched to Justice Studies, discovering a passion for addressing systemic issues in the justice system. Brian plans to pursue a master's degree in Justice Studies. Brian’s involvement with RCP has been transformative, providing insight into the struggles of individuals trying to rebuild their lives after incarceration. Hearing their stories of wanting to change and desire to support their families has had a profound impact, reinforcing his commitment to helping those in need.} 

^{Jill is a first-generation college student who transferred from De Anza College and will graduate with a degree in Justice Studies. Her involvement with the Record Clearance Project has deepened her understanding of the legal system and motivated her to pursue a career in law enforcement, where she can assist others. Jill speaks Vietnamese and understands basic Japanese.}

^{Maile is a transfer student majoring in Justice Studies with a concentration in Criminology. Before attending SJSU, she served as the President of Students Overcoming and Alleviating Recidivism, providing resource navigation services for justice-impacted students. She has helped organize domestic violence awareness events for college football games, partnered with the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara County to speak about victim advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, and is the SJSU Newman Civic Fellow for 2024-2025. Inspired by the hardworking matriarchs of her family, Mailelizabeth plans to attend law school and become the first attorney in her family.}

^{Mariella from Cordova, Alaska. She is a first-generation Filipino immigrant student and the first in her family to attend college. She is majoring in Justice Studies and will graduate December 2024. She studied Political Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Paralegal Studies at Berkeley City College and Merritt Community College. Her studies have further shed light on the correlation of long-term consequences that under-resourced communities experience from the justice system. Joining the RCP has allowed her to help create change for individuals and has further motivated her to support underrepresented and immigrant communities. She is fluent in Ilocano and understands Tagalog.}

^{Mark was born in San Francisco and raised in Richmond, CA. He is a first-generation college student who will graduate in Spring 2025 with a B.S in Justice studies and is enrolled with the SAGE Master’s Program. Mark plans to practice law or start an organization for youth or incarcerated men. He is passionate about expungement and juvenile justice. Mark is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.} 

^{Maximilian is a Filipino-American, second-generation college student from Newark, California. He is studying Justice Studies at SJSU, with a focus on criminology. Max joined the advanced student program to gain more knowledge and experience in the field of law. He plans to work in law or the criminal justice system to assist people who need help that the system is not designed to give and assist the community.}

^{Melissa is majoring in Justice Studies and minoring in Forensic Science. She plans to attend law school after graduating in Spring 2025. Originally from Oakland, Melissa is passionate about helping others, a passion that has been fueled by her involvement with the RCP. She believes in the importance of ensuring that people feel heard and are provided with the necessary resources. Melissa is fluent in Spanish.}

^{Raquel was born and raised in San Jose, CA. She is majoring in Justice Studies with a concentration in Criminology and will graduate in Spring of 2025. After graduation, she plans to attend law school. Raquel joined the Record Clearance Project because she is passionate about helping people and hopes to make a change within our justice system.}

^{Reyna a Justice Studies major, began volunteering with the California Department of Corrections through Maranatha Christian Center’s Prison and Jail Ministry under Pastor Anthony Williams, PhD. There, she found fulfillment in connecting with re-entry clients eager to start fresh. She earned a California Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certificate at San Jose City College and a Certified Paralegal Certificate at Evergreen Valley College. Reyna plans to attend law school and later become a judge.} 

^{Rishi grew up in the Bay Area and will graduate Fall 2024 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He plans to attend law school where he plans to combine his passion for technology with his desire to help others. Rishi is excited about the possibility of using his background to make a positive impact in the legal field, particularly in areas where technology can advance justice. Rishi speaks Hindi and is committed to serving his community.}

^{Sandra is a first-generation Mexican-American, born in Los Angeles but raised in Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish. She is majoring in Criminal Justice with minors in Psychology and Forensic Science. After graduation, Sandra plans to become a probation officer, though may attend law school later on. Her dream is to uplift those who are underrepresented in the community and to provide the support they deserve but often lack.}

^{Tyler is interested in becoming a lawyer so that he can drive meaningful change. Raised in the North Bay Area, Tyler developed an interest in advocacy when he was a child. He decided to enroll in the RCP program to gain practical skills and knowledge to help him with law and policy reform. Tyler plans to use his legal career to create more inclusive policies and serve underrepresented communities.}

^{Vanessa was born and raised in San Jose, California. She is a first-generation college student and speaks fluent Spanish. A transfer student from Evergreen Valley College, Vanessa will graduate in Spring 2025 with a major in Justice Studies and a minor in Forensic Science. She is proud to work with the RCP because it gives her the opportunity to practice legal skills and provide legal information to those who are interested in expunging their records. After graduating, Vanessa plans to join the police academy and become a detective.}