Sophia Manning ’26: Valedictorian & Future Advocate for System-Impacted People
Major/Degree: B.A. in Deviance, Crime & Culture
Minor: Interdisciplinary Studies
Certificate: Dispute Resolution
Internships/Fellowships: Vera Institute of Justice, Research Fellow; Themis Youth Law & Advocacy, Intern
Mentors: David Green, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Sociology; Richard Haw, Ph.D., Professor, Sociology
Hometown: Longmont, CO
Career Aspiration: Restorative Justice Advocate
What was life like before John Jay?
I grew up in a close-knit family, living in Longmont, Colorado, with my parents and older sister. My parents fostered a love of learning, an appreciation for the outdoors, and a desire to help others. From an early age, I spent a lot of time hiking and skiing. I was a big reader, too, drawn to stories centered on heroes who fought for fairness and justice.
I also faced difficult times. High school was one of the most challenging periods of my life. As I navigated my journey with addiction and recovery, I almost dropped out of high school. There were moments I didn’t think I was going to go to college. I ended up going to four different high schools, was sent to a wilderness camp for troubled teens, and spent time in a residential treatment facility. After several months, I worked through my issues and am proud to say I got through the experience. It was a real turning point in my life and taught me to be more resilient. When I graduated from high school, I remember feeling so proud of everything I had overcome.
Why John Jay?
John Jay was the only college I wanted to attend and the only place I applied to. I first heard about John Jay when I was in middle school, and from that moment on, it was on my radar. I grew up really caring about the criminal and social justice issues, and John Jay felt like the perfect place for me to find purpose, strengthen my advocacy skills, and learn how to create meaningful change. When I was accepted, the idea of moving across the country was a bit intimidating, but after going through rehabilitation and recovery, I knew I couldn’t deny myself the opportunity of going to one of the top criminal justice schools in the country.
What sparked your passion for justice?
My passion for justice was first ignited when I was younger, watching shows like The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The main theme of these shows was fighting corruption or evil forces, and that was very appealing to me. Around this time, I also realized that I liked girls. I remember going to online spaces centered on justice and accepting yourself and it broadened my perspective on life. In many ways, my Queer identity led me to discover different social justice issues and movements I wasn’t previously aware of, and that shaped my desire to be socially conscious and fight for equity and justice. Intersectionality exists, so if I care about Queer justice, I should care about justice and equity in all its forms.
How have your mentors impacted your educational experience?
Professors David Green and Richard Haw were incredibly helpful over the last four years, guiding me throughout my time at John Jay. But if there’s a moment that impacted my time at the College the most, it was a course I took with David. In the course, we discussed prisons and other forms of punishment and rehabilitation, and he brought up wilderness camps—popular in the troubled teen industry.
These “camps” are a network of congregate care facilities designed to treat behavioral issues, most often in teenagers. They’re privately owned and operated, and because placement is private, there are no guidelines or health and safety standards in place. No one is paying attention to what’s going on at these camps, and the system is just bad overall.
I informed David that I was in one of these wilderness camps when I was in high school and shared my experience—from the traumatizing way I was removed from my home to the treatment at the camp. Looking back, I sympathize with my parents, who thought they were doing what was best for me. I mean, what do you do when your teen is saying they’re dropping out of high school and clearly struggling with addiction? They had very few options and I’ve since made peace with their decision.
But when I told David my story, it was a validating moment in my life. Here was this adult, my professor, a professional in the field, and he said to me, “That was wrong. That shouldn’t have happened to you.” It changed my life. He was the first person to say that to me and his words allowed me to reframe my experience.
It’s also why I’m so passionate about advocating for system-impacted people. My experience with forced confinement shaped not only the way I approached my studies as a criminal justice student, but also the kind of advocate I hope to become for those who have been treated unfairly by the system.
How did your Vera Institute fellowship help shape your goals?
I got the Vera Fellowship through the Interdisciplinary Studies Program (ISP). The fellowship has two components, the first is a seminar portion which is done once a week with ISP, and then there’s the internship portion at Vera’s office.
I was part of Vera’s Restoring Promise research team. Restoring Promise partners with correction departments in different states to transform and renovate units in prisons for young adults. They focus on changing prison culture and restoring dignity to the young adults in the system. Vera is using a model that is evidence-based and focused on rehabilitation—which is something, given my own history, that I really appreciate. Youths in the units benefit from peer mentoring programs and therapeutic community group living care.
As part of my work with the team, I was helping with the cross-site analysis portion of the process. We looked at several units across different states that were in the pre-, post-, or currently undergoing implementation of the Restoring Promise program. We wanted to see what it would take to renovate or open up new units at different sites. To do this analysis, we used a qualitative coding platform. I went through hundreds of documents for the units, coded them excerpt by excerpt, so that comparisons could be made, and the program could find the best way forward to ensure these changes take place.
I’m thankful to have been a Vera Fellow with the Restoring Promise team. It was great to work with a team that wants to make meaningful change and reform the prison system. As someone interested in justice innovation, this fellowship reaffirmed my desire to work with people impacted by the system.
What does it mean to you being named the class valedictorian?
It was both incredibly gratifying and deeply affirming. I worked hard throughout my time at John Jay, and I’m very proud of what this achievement represents. More importantly, it reflects how far I’ve come—from a high school student who didn’t think she would even make it to college, to graduating from John Jay as valedictorian.
What are your plans post John Jay?
I’ll be moving back to Colorado later this summer and apply for positions focused on community and restorative justice. I want to provide direct services to people impacted by incarceration or wrongful conviction. I’d love to get hands-on experience in the field, earn a master’s degree, and maybe even work for Vera’s Colorado office, if possible.
