Daris Jackson

Daris is a graduate of The City University of New York's Hunter College where he received a B.A. in Sociology, and a M.S. in Urban Affairs. Daris has dedicated his professional and educational pursuits to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities. During his time at the Hunter College School of Urban Affairs & Planning, Daris conducted research centered on the inequities that gender non-conforming inmates face in modern American prison systems. While in graduate school, Daris worked as a Court Assistant at the Bronx Family Court where he served as an At-Large board member of the New York State Judicial Gay/Straight Alliance. In 2010, Daris served as a Fellow to the American Bar Association's Council on Legal Education Opportunity, and subsequently began his studies at the Rutgers School of Law in Newark, NJ where he continued his commitment to advocate for civil rights, community development, and socio-political equality. As a member of the Minority Student Program, Daris remained very active in campus activities, among which included a two-year appointment as a Class Representative to the Student Bar Association. While serving as a Student Attorney for the Rutgers Special Education Litigation Clinic, Daris also served as a Managing Notes & Comments Editor of the Rutgers Race & The Law Review, the Co-Chair of the Rutgers LGBTQ Law Caucus, and a mentor through Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties. In 2013 Daris was recognized by the Rutgers LGBTQ and Diversity Resource Center for his outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ Community in Newark, and was presented with a Rainbow Graduation rope denoting this honor. In May, 2013 Daris served as the Student Speaker at the School of Law Commencement Ceremony.