Yaffa Naomi Frank

Intern

Yaffa, a first-generation student at SUNY Empire State College, is majoring in Psychology, focusing on Criminal Law and Forensics. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana and now based in Brooklyn, New York; she brings a unique perspective with her lived experience in urban policing, Mass incarceration and the juvenile justice system. Her work centers on justice reform, trauma, and systemic inequality. As a federal retiree from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Yaffa brings firsthand insight from public service to her research. She is deeply committed to using research and advocacy to drive meaningful, lasting change in pursuing justice reform.