By Rachel James-Terry
Jackson State University alumna Jennifer Love recently established the $100,000 Jennifer Love Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Endowed Scholarship at her alma mater.
“We are thankful to have alumni like Jennifer, whose generous investment in Jackson State and our criminal justice students will help to empower and transform their higher education futures. Her gift further elevates our strategic plan goal of student success, ensuring they have access to the resources needed to fulfill their academic endeavors,” said JSU President Thomas K. Hudson, J.D.
“I hope to encourage generations of JSU students to highly consider a career in law enforcement because this nation desperately needs law enforcement officials who reflect the communities they serve,” Love said. “Whether it be as police officers, federal agents, probation officers, prosecutors, or defense attorneys, to name a few.”
The Hazelhurst, Mississippi, native said she also intends for the scholarship to help alleviate student debt and galvanize others to action.
I sincerely hope establishing the endowment will inspire other JSU alumni to give. God has truly blessed my life, and because of his favor, giving back has become one of my greatest joys because ’to whom much is given, much is required,’” she said.
Love retired from the FBI in 2012 as the assistant director of the Security Division, where she was responsible for all FBI security disciplines, which included physical security, information security, personnel security, the FBI police, and the executive protection of the FBI director and the attorney general of the United States.
“Also, during my time in the FBI, I was the special agent in charge (SAC) of the Richmond FBI Office and the special agent in charge of the Criminal Division, Washington D.C. Field Office’” Love explained. “I chose a career in federal law enforcement because I wanted to serve my country and local communities.”
After retiring from the FBI, Love became the senior vice-president and chief security officer for Cablevision Corporation in Bethpage, New York, for three years and then moved on to senior vice-president of safety, environment, and health for Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Love currently sits on two non-profit boards. She is the vice chairwoman of the National Education Environment Foundation in Washington, D.C., the non-profit board for the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States.
She also serves as president of the board of directors for Kristi House, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating child abuse and child sex trafficking, working nationally on solutions and locally to heal child victims.
To be eligible for the scholarship(s), candidates must meet the following criteria:
• Must be a full-time student enrolled at Jackson State University
• Must be a Criminal Justice major
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA
