BleakHouse Scholars

BleakHouse Scholars undertake original works of social science, art, or fiction on social and criminal justice issues. Their work will be published by the press. The award comes with a modest honorarium.

Sophia Nakos

2025

Sophia Nakos is a sophomore at American University studying Justice and Law, with a minor in African American Studies. She is deeply committed to social justice, particularly within criminal justice reform. Her interests lie in addressing racial injustice, advocating for marginalized communities, and improving prison mental health services. With a strong background in mediation, legal research, and policy work, she has pursued internships with organizations like The Innocent Convicts and the DC Attorney General’s Office, focusing on housing inequality in the District of Columbia. She is passionate about working and advocating for people to prevent initial prison system entry, navigating through prison’s harsh environments, and coming out stronger on the other side with aid for post-incarceration.

Jackson Gold

2024

Our 2024 BleakHouse Scholar is Jackson Gold. Jackson is an undergraduate student at American University. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Justice, Law, and Criminology with a minor in International Relations. Originally from the city of Philadelphia, Jackson draws on insights from his first-hand experiences with the operation and reform of the criminal justice system. He is involved in several projects, in DC and elsewhere, to ensure that our criminal justice system is equitable.