My name is Rae Joseph, and I have lived in Tucson, Arizona for most of my life. I have an Associate of Science from Pima Community College and currently attend the University of Arizona. Graduating in 2025, I am double majoring in criminal justice studies and business management.  

When I was a child, I attended schools in the Vail School District and experienced some of the most impactful years of my life. The community at the school was unparalleled, not only during my adolescent years but even during my time as an adult. With this in mind, I knew I had to work in the same environment that had made me who I was today. To emphasize, I wanted to sustain and cultivate the community where the community had cultivated me. Higher Ground has given me the opportunity to finally give back to the community. I can now fulfill my passions and desires of having a positive impact on those around me.

My life goal is to work at the Innocence Project in New York. I want to pursue justice for those falsely convicted. Working at Higher Ground is extremely important to me in the process of chasing the Innocence Project because you don’t know what innocence truly looks like until you look into the eyes of a child. The innocence that a child has is what I want to bring back to those wrongfully convicted. Being a part of Higher Ground has helped me gain insight on being part of a functional team that values students’ experiences and provides assistance to those in need of resources. I’m hoping to use my opportunity here to develop skills and world-changing experiences to reach my ultimate goal and purpose.