John Jay M.A. Helps Paul Matrecano ’24 Secure Job with NYS Senate
Degree: M.A. in Criminal Justice
Mentor: Adjunct Professor Jeanene Barrett, Ph.D.
Internship: Investigative Intern, New York City Department of Investigations’ Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD; Disaster Relief Service Associate, American Red Cross
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Current Role: Community Liaison with New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton
What was life like before John Jay?
I grew up in Staten Island, living with my mom, dad, and older brother, who all work in public service. They are people who care about and take care of others. My family wanted me to go into a field like physical therapy since they’re all therapists—dad is an occupational therapist at a nursing home, mom is a physical therapist in schools, and my brother is a speech therapist. I decided, however, that I wanted to do public service differently, by working with public officials and local and federal agencies.
Did your family spark your passion for public service?
Yes. Coming from an Italian family with a long history of work in service, I was raised to always look out for others, be inclusive, and make the world a better place. Growing up I had the chance to meet a lot of local elected officials and police officers. I remember looking up to them and thinking they were brave, kept us safe, and were helpful to the community. I wanted to provide that level of service to others.
Also, at John Jay, I took a couple of courses on terrorism, and one of the things that stayed with me was how people are converted into gang members, terrorists, or extremists. In many cases, it happens simply because the person feels lonely or hopeless. It’s a theory called low social capital. People without connections, people who are lonely or don’t feel connected to their community have less to lose. So, they go down these extreme routes. That concept affirmed for me that I wanted to work in public service because I wanted to make sure the public was met with a friendly face and I wanted people to feel heard. I like to validate the people I cross paths with, even if it’s just with a “Hello, I hope you have a great day.” I want them to know they’re not alone. I want them to know I see them, I value their presence, and that I’m here to help.
Why did you want to earn your master’s degree in criminal justice?
My ultimate career goal is to one day work as a representative for the Department of Homeland Security. To work at an agency that important, I needed to go to a well-respected school that could offer me a great education. When you look on LinkedIn, so many government agency employees are John Jay College graduates. That made my decision to get my master’s degree at John Jay an easy one. I also loved the idea of learning from professors who were actively working or had worked in the criminal justice field.
What was your internship experience like at the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI)?
I found the internship through John Jay’s Handshake job search platform and applied. When I got the internship and arrived at the DOI office, I saw that the Inspector General for the NYPD and the person I would be working under was also my John Jay criminal justice professor, Dr. Jeanene Barrett.
I was an investigative intern, so a big part of my role was to conduct research on policies, assist in developing investigative plans, and work with other squads within DOI as well as law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. I also helped with walk-in intakes. If someone came in with a complaint about a safety issue or another community problem, I would take notes and write a memo that would relay the information to investigators.
One of the projects I worked on during the internship was investigating the surge in the use of e-bikes to commit crimes. E-bikes are harder to track because they don’t have license plates and they’re easier to maneuver through the streets. It was interesting to see how crime develops in the city.
How did your mentor put you on the path to success?
Getting to see Dr. Barrett work as the Inspector General changed how I viewed my career path going forward. I knew I wanted to work for an agency and support the public, but up until that moment, I wasn’t sure in what capacity. Watching how she led her team, interacted with her staff, and ran meetings made me want to become a more confident and powerful public speaker. The experience pushed me to consider more on-the-ground community outreach roles. After that DOI internship, I went on to intern with the Red Cross where I worked more closely with the public and was hands-on in providing communities the support they need after life-changing situations.
What drew you to the community liaison role?
I was excited by the idea of working with an elected official who is working hard for her constituents. New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton values public service work and community engagement. As a community liaison, I go to events with her as well as on her behalf. I attend press conferences, work with constituents on local projects such as community clean-ups, visit schools in the district, and speak with students and teachers. In my job, as Senator Scarcella-Spanton representative, I’ve spoken at graduation ceremonies, helped build a new garden with kindergarteners, and engaged with veterans.
What have you found especially fulfilling about this role?
I get to help people every day in this job. Getting to have an impact on someone’s life, no matter how small, is the greatest feeling. We work a lot with veterans. They often feel underappreciated for their service. That’s why we strive to support them in any way we can. A group of veterans in the district sought to get a memorial statue of the late Father Vincent Capodanno erected on Staten Island. Father Capodanno, who was from Staten Island and a Marine chaplain in Vietnam during the war, died while helping wounded marines. The veterans wanted to honor his legacy. I was able to connect the group with Arturo Di Modica’s family. He’s the artist who created the Charging Bull statue. The family agreed to create the Father Capodanno statue. It should be up on Father Capodanno Boulevard and Seaview Avenue later this summer.
Finish this sentence: Because of John Jay…
Because of John Jay, I was able to learn about the importance of community engagement and how to serve the public. My John Jay education enabled me to land an important role working with a New York State Senator.
