About the Fellowship
Choosing to pursue higher education should not be fraught with barriers. For justice-impacted individuals, the barriers are even higher. That’s why, in 2021, we started the Justice Policy Fellowship — to elevate the voices of individuals who are directly impacted by the legal system.
We select outstanding individuals from across the country who have overcome the odds and done amazing work in their communities. Throughout this yearlong fellowship, the Justice Fellows use their lived experiences to inform, review, and amplify EdTrust’s policy recommendations for justice-impacted students. Because we know that these voices have real potential to make a difference in the lives of many other justice-impacted people who want to pursue their education.
Learn more about the Justice Fellows cohorts here.
Justice Fellows in Action
Introducing our Third Cohort of Justice Fellows
Everyone deserves a chance — and some people need a second, maybe even a third. Here at EdTrust, we believe that every student should get a high-quality educat…
WATCH: Affirmative Action and Student Loan Forgiveness for the Justice Impacted
In many ways, justice-impacted individuals have been left out of the conversation regarding higher education and affirmative action. While incarcerated individ…
The First Cohort of Justice Policy Fellows Graduate
"History teaches us that change is often made when an organized segment of those most affected, leading in solidarity with allies, disrupt business as usual."—…
WATCH: Beyond the Ban: A Toolkit for Advocating College Opportunity for Justice-Impacted Students
Join Ed Trust Researchers and Justice Fellows for a comprehensive overview of the “Beyond the Ban” toolkits with the policy scan findings, resources, and tools…
About the Advisory Board
Ed Trust has convened an advisory board of individuals with expertise in advocating for issues at the nexus of higher education policy and the criminal legal system. Ed Trust will rely on these board members for high-level guidance and advice on Ed Trust’s strategy for the Fellows program.
Justice Fellows Advisory Board
Terrell Blount
Terrell Blount is the director of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network (FICGN), a nonprofit organization that promotes equity,…
Hernán Carvente-Martinez
Hernán Carvente-Martinez is the executive director of the Alianza for Youth Justice, the founder of Healing Ninjas, Inc., a…
Dr. Shawnice Johnson
Dr. Shawnice Johnson is a senior data analyst at a leading national non-profit and an experienced research consultant. As…
Michelle Daniel Jones
Michelle Daniel (Jones) is a fourth-year doctoral student in the American Studies program at New York University. While incarcerated,…
Dr. Zaria Davis
Dr. Zaria Davis is a spiritual care provider, mentor, educator, and advocate. She is passionate about restoration and healing…
Dr. Laura Ferguson-Mimms
I am a native Nashvillian who loves my family and my hometown. My professional career includes working as a…
Dr. Terrence S. McTier Jr.
Dr. Terrence S. McTier Jr. is a research and equity consultant for current and formerly incarcerated individuals. Dr. McTier…
Ved Price
Ved Price joined the Alliance as Executive Director in 2022 and brings deep experience in the nonprofit sector as…
Romarilyn Ralston
Romarilyn Ralston identifies as a Black feminist abolitionist with incarceration experience. She earned a Bachelor degree in Gender and…
Noel Vest, Ph.D.
Noel Vest, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine. His research interests include…
Jarrod M. Wall
Jarrod M. Wall is a fifth-year doctoral student at Tulane University, works part-time for the Jesuit Social Justice Research…