MA in Anthropology

Jae-lynn Tavarez Brown, 2025

Jae-lynn earned her MA in Anthropology out of a passion for articulating large, complex histories through ethnographic storytelling. During her studies, she also pursued graduate certificates in Women and Gender Studies and Conflict Analysis and Resolution, conducted research with George Mason’s Early Justice Strategies Lab, and supported a bibliotherapy nonprofit for incarcerated children in D.C. In the spring of 2025, she was awarded the Outstanding Anthropology Master's Thesis Award, the Black Scholar of the Year Award, and a presentation award at the Peace and Conflict Resolution Graduate Research Symposium.

What was your specific area of study and how did you choose it?

My master's thesis research interrogated how media representation of prisons, crime, and the legal system in America affects how the public perceives these institutions and their purposes and reliability. This project emerged from my reflections on how prisons became normalized in our culture and my memories of watching COPS and Law & Order as a kid. As an anthropologist, I was compelled to probe my community members on the matter, some never having interacted with the system and others having been incarcerated themselves, and found that their lived experiences acted as direct contestations for the system and the popular carceral ideologies pushed through the media. My findings opened discussions about how the media can be used to shift hegemonic ideas around crime, justice, and punishment as the people take media power into their own hands.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

My co-scholars and professors in CHSS challenged me to rethink ideas and institutions that I had formerly accepted as natural or "just the way things are." They flipped my previous notions about how the world works on its head and empowered me through their labor and knowledge to envision a radically different culture and society.

Which accomplishments during your time at George Mason are you most proud of?

I am proud of all of my accomplishments at George Mason, large and small, especially and including the mistakes I made as a student and peer, as those posed the biggest opportunities for my learning. One accomplishment I am particularly proud of is co-founding the student activist organization, Prison Labor Justice Collective, a community dedicated to the anti-prison slavery movement.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your George Mason career?

There are several faculty members who I owe my development as a scholar and activist to since I was an undergraduate student, including Professor Rashmi Sadana, Professor Christopher Morris, Professor Daniel Temple, and Professor Wendi Manuel-Scott. The professional staff of the Center for Culture, Equity and Inclusion also played a huge role in my accomplishments today.

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students?

Develop a relationship with each and every professor you have. Their knowledge and experiences will help you in more ways than just the coursework. Inquire about their projects and ask them for their opinions on topics that interest you. They have so much more to offer you than just the subject matter.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

My career goals are to do work that involves local communities in anti-carceral practices, restorative justice, and supporting returning and currently incarcerated folks.