Micah Herskind, from Buffalo, NY, is a member of the Class of 2019 focusing on Race and Public Policy while pursuing a certificate in the American Studies Program. Micah was drawn to the African American Studies department through his involvement with Students for Prison Education and Reform (SPEAR) and summer internships, where he has learned about the carceral state’s disproportionate impact on people of color and those living in poverty. His research interests include exploring the reproduction of social and racial inequality through 21st century reform efforts and modern developments in public policy, and he hopes to pursue independent research and a career that allow him to find his place in national and global struggles for prison abolition and social justice. While he is unsure where that may take him, he is interested in pursuing a law degree and continuing to grapple with the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, and privilege. In addition to serving as co-president of SPEAR, Micah has served as an LGBT Peer Educator, is a proud member of Princeton’s interfaith group and the Episcopal Church at Princeton, and is co-founder of Progressive Christians at Princeton.