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Two John Jay Students Will Explore Career Prospects through Watson Fellowship

Sophomores Man Cheung and Ariel Roland-Waring, both Forensic Psychology majors, are recipients of the prestigious Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship. The Watson Fellowship assists students making the transition from college to a career through development of professional skills. It focuses on job education though internships, mentoring, and enhanced educational opportunities to undergraduates who are striving to expand their career opportunities and life experiences. The Fellowship provides the recipients with three summers of paid internships with the third internship located outside New York State or abroad. Students declare their preferences for placement and then interview with each agency. The Fellowship is intended to develop leadership skills, experience within the professional arena, and preparation for graduate programs, fellowships and jobs.

When Man Cheung entered John Jay as a freshman his dream was to be a police officer. That summer he started mentoring as part of the service learning program at the Chinese American Planning Council on a range of topics from resume building to breast cancer awareness. While at the Council, Cheung began to consider other vocations and opportunities. After he worked as a cognitive psychology research assistant with Professor Deryn Strange in the Department of Psychology, he applied to the Watson Fellowship. Now as a Watson Fellow, Cheung said he is most interested in interning at the Bronx Defenders, Global Kids Incorporated, Beth Israel, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

“I was surprised to receive the Watson. I’m so excited to step out of my comfort zone. I think this will be a very good experience for me,” said Cheung.

Ariel Roland-Waring became passionate about forensic psychology when she took a class in forensic psychology in high school. After completing core classes for the forensic science major at John Jay, Roland-Waring’s interests in the mind and forensic psychology were reinforced.

“When I came to John Jay, I was so interested in the mind and how the brain works. It poses the biggest puzzles to science, and I love trying to solving them,” said Roland-Waring.

Roland-Waring is interested in doing her internship at the Studio Museum in Harlem or the Beth Israel Cancer Center. In the future she may like to pursue a PhD in forensic psychology and work for youth justice. While at John Jay she is beginning her own art club called Creative Hands. She hopes it will be a means to showcase students’ artistic talent and become a hub for John Jay’s art community.

“I’m excited for Watson. I’m excited to learn and see what’s out there,” said Roland-Waring.

Students: Learn more by contacting the Office of Fellowship & Scholarship Opportunites (OFSO@jjay.cuny.edu) and check the OFSO website for more information.