Spencer McCray is a youth advocate, public speaker, and program leader for the Center for Justice-Impacted Students at Middlesex College in Edison, New Jersey. At 16 years old, Spencer began serving a 15 year to life prison sentence in New York State. Realizing that education was the way to rehabilitation, he enrolled in college while incarcerated. Spencer holds a master’s degree from New York Theological Seminary and both a bachelor’s and associate’s degree from Bard College’s Prison Initiative (BPI).
As a strong believer in the transformative power of education in carceral spaces, Spencer’s passion lies in supporting incarcerated juvenile students in achieving their college goals through his position at Middlesex College. Additionally, he helps these students advance juvenile justice policy efforts throughout the state.