LAYING THE BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

PASSION & COMMITMENT DRIVE JUSTIN GRANT ’06 TO BEST SERVE THE LIU AND GREATER COMMUNITY

ctive alumni spanning across the globe are proud to be affiliated with Long Island University, but there is arguably no alumnus that embodies the spirit of Shark Nation more than Justin Grant '06. Grant, who is now the Executive Director for Community Development & National Partnerships at JPMorgan Chase, grew up in Clinton Hill, a short distance from the University’s campus in downtown Brooklyn.

Grant spent many memorable days of his childhood attending LIU basketball games in the late 1990s led by NBAbound Charles Jones. Citing the electric atmosphere and the prospect of a Division I basketball program down the block from where he grew up, Grant cited that his positive experiences on campus reinforced that Long Island University was the only place he wanted to attend.

Grant joined the campus newspaper, Seawanhaka, as a staff writer and advanced to editor of the publication. Grant, who wanted an enriching experience in addition to a strong academic footprint, credits his experience at the student paper and his internship placements assisted by Professor Dr. Ralph Engleman for preparing him to become a journalist, landing a position at Thomson Reuters as a reporter.

“It really was a thrill to be involved in campus media. My time at the Seawankhaka gave me the foundational skills that would carry me throughout my career. I give LIU a lot of credit for preparing me for a high-level job right out of school.,” said Grant.

After spending nearly seven years in journalism with a focus on finance and the capital markets, most notably the Bernie Madoff story, Grant eventually transitioned into the financial services sector, a move that Grant credits LIU with preparing him for.

“The liberal arts education I received at LIU taught me how to think critically and creatively, which is a skillset that can be applied across industries and in a variety of functions,” said Grant. “I always come back to the educational foundation and core concepts at LIU. If you can write well and be a good communicator, the sky is the limit.”

Grant not only found his niche, but more importantly, developed a passion to conduct community impact focus work. In his current position at JPMorgan Chase, Grant helps lead the firm’s Advancing

Black Pathways strategy, which seeks to strengthen the economic foundation of Black communities globally through targeted programs and investments aimed at growing wealth in historically underserved communities. Most recently, Grant conducted a black wealth tour across four major markets, Los Angeles, Dallas, New Orleans and Philadelphia, with the goal to provide the necessary resources to as many people as possible.

Looking back at his current accomplishments and his passion for community engagement, Grant credits his grandmother for her foresight and vision teaching him the fundamentals of long-term planning and the significant impact it can have on a family, lessons that he strives to pass along to many people as possible.

Grant remains active in the LIU community, currently serving on the University’s Board of Trustees and its Student Affairs Committee. In addition, he recently launched a scholarship in honor of his uncle to provide lead editors of the Seawanhaka with financial assistance, with the aim of helping future leaders benefit from the opportunities he was once afforded at LIU.

“I am thrilled to see what is happening with our campus community,” said Grant. “I am impressed with the evolution of our school since I graduated, and it gives me a sense that my degree will continue to grow in value over time. The investments LIU has made to attract the type of faculty and the students that we have will continue to grow the prestige of our community.”