Aaron Jennings was unsure of his next move. He had a solid educational background in politics and government and a strong desire to help others, born out of his faith and upbringing, but he was unsure of a career path.

"It was my senior year at the University of Virginia, and I was looking for a graduate school that would give me the tools to truly help others. I found what I was looking for at the Brown School.

“My main interest is youth development, particularly educational attainment for African-American males.  America's future is dependent on the growth of African-American males — we are all linked together. My research revealed that in many urban centers, over 50 percent of all African-American males don't graduate from high school and/or they drop out before the 10th grade. Seeing these statistics and also having a passion for my country, I decided that I had to do something about this problem.”