Safanya Nicole Searcy is a transfer student in the School of Criminal Justice, double majoring in Justice Studies and Political Science, and minoring in Social Justice as a scholar in the Honors Living-Learning Community. A proud Newarker born and raised, Safanya returned to college full time in the fall of 2022, 23 years after graduating from University High School. Safanya is a collaborative, creative and strategic leader with a 20 year career that spans the gamut of leadership, public service, politics, organizing and activism. As a senior staff leader for a large nonprofit, Safanya leads bodies of work that focus on Leadership Development for staff and its membership base, along with the intersectionality between race, the economy, the future of work and the role of restorative justice as part of their journey to becoming an Anti-Racist Organization. Additionally, Safanya is the President and CEO of Fayvor Solutions, Inc., a consulting firm that provides administrative support, leadership and board development to BIPOC-led nonprofits and small businesses.
Safanya is active in the City of Newark and is a super active member of our campus community. In addition to serving as the University Senator for the School of Criminal Justice, Safanya is also the Student Representative on the Rutgers University Board of Governors. She is a member of the Transfer Student Organization, the RU-N Criminal Justice Club, has been a Teaching Assistant for 2 courses, was a member of the Inaugural Cohort of Racial Justice Fellows in the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice (ISGRJ) & served as the first Congressional Fellow of the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Race & Politics in America at Rutgers- Newark, in partnership with Braven.
A huge believer in integrating joy into all aspects of life, Safanya loves all things arts and culture. She is an avid Broadway enthusiast, enjoys line dancing and is a Karaoke Queen! She takes great pleasure in learning, building community and co-creating joy throughout her academic experiences.