Jennifer Hickey

Raised in Queens, 'The World's Borough,' Jennifer was granted the opportunity to explore and learn about a myriad of different cultures and viewpoints through osmosis as she made her way through school. The eldest child of parents who emigrated from Ireland, Jennifer was raised in a culture steeped in storytelling traditions and historical awareness, which is something she places great emphasis on today. Always drawn to the performing arts, Jennifer was brought up to always keep her eye on academic advancement, and it is only in recent years that she has allowed herself to be open to more creative career paths.

An alumna of Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, Jennifer went on to Northeastern University in Boston for her undergraduate career. While there, she received her B.S. in Criminal Justice, along with minors in History and Law & Public Policy. She then attended Brooklyn Law School, where she graduated with her J.D., as well as a Certificate in Criminal Law, in 2014. Jennifer recently completed Atlantic Acting School's Evening Conservatory, where she had the opportunity to perform in the World Premiere of Danny Rocco's play 'Do You Roll Over in the Night?' at the Linda Gross Theater.

Jennifer has worked/interned at a myriad of city agencies, including:
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York (Violent Crimes);
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York (Federal Misdemeanors);
Queens District Attorney's Office (Appeals Bureau);
Bronx District Attorney's Office (Complaint Room);
Bronx Community Solutions (Court Reporter);
NYPD (Major Case Squad) (Collaborative Policing).

In the time between graduating law school and entering the MA in Arts Politics program, Jennifer has taught several classes, as well as developed a close working relationship with the Kupferberg Holocaust Center at CUNY Queensborough Community College. Her class subjects generally tend towards legal history and legislation, with particular regards to hate crimes, but she has also lectured on cinematic responses to genocide, the impact of story on self-curation, and a myriad of topics relating to the Nuremberg Trials.  

What drew you to the MA in Arts Politics?

The interaction between creative response and political theory is one that I am excited to explore more fully and deeply. It is an intersection that I have struggled to navigate in the past, so I am eager to begin my journey, and my learning, at NYU. As I open myself to learning the history and principles of Arts Politics, I am also keeping a keen eye on how to integrate my own experience with storytelling and historykeeping into this discussion framework.