About Jahaziel

Picture
Jahaziel (he/him) is pursuing a dual-degree (bachelors and masters) accountancy program at San Diego State University's Fowler College of Business. He is a first-gen university student and formerly incarcerated person. Today, Jahaziel is not only a student, but also an entrepreneur. He is the founder of SD 360 Photo, a business specializing in high-quality 360-degree videography services. As a volunteer with the Prison Education Project, Jahaziel facilitates financial literacy courses for youth in detention facilities. In addition to business and academic research, Jahaziel is passionate about music creation.

Educational Journey
While incarcerated, Jahaziel earned ten associate degrees, ranging from administration of justice, to psychology and business, showcasing his unwavering dedication to self-improvement and education. The journey to undergraduate research began with his participation in the SEMILLAS Research Fellowship Program in the summer of 2022. In Spring 2023, Jahaziel was selected to participate in the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program sponsored by the Educational Testing Service and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, a national organization.

As an accounting student at San Diego State University, Jahaziel’s journey has been enriched by the Lavin Entrepreneurship program, where he has had the privilege of connecting with mentors and immersing himself in San Diego's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through SDSU’s ZIPLaunch business incubator program, he and his Tilly One team have 3-D printed their first prototype for a sustainable alternative to pregnancy tests. Looking forward, Jahaziel aims to complete both his bachelor's and master's degrees by the end of the 2025 spring semester, followed by a Ph.D. in economics.

As a major highlight, on September 12, 2023 Jahaziel was granted the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. Truly one of his highest achievements to date. 

Research Interests

As a direct result of his lived experience and inquisitive nature, Jahaziel's research explores the relationship between criminal justice and the distribution of economic resources. Jahaziel uses his accounting knowledge to examine fiscal policy and its subsequent impact on currently and formerly incarcerated populations. With a focus on rehabilitation success rates, both during and post-incarceration, Jahaziel will apply auditing and accounting principles to analyze the effectiveness of financial resource allocation by the California government toward reducing recidivism. To better inform himself of the current state of rehabilitation efforts, Jahaziel has begun volunteering at a youth detention center. The goal is to empower the youth and create a safer environment for everyone involved.