Annly Zheng

Excellent 201  Research  Paper

Faculty Mentor: Tommie Ortiz

Annly Zheng is a student at John Jay College, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Police Studies and a minor in Criminology. Born and raised in an immigrant Chinese family, she is bilingual in English and Mandarin and draws on her cultural background to explore themes of language, identity, and community in her writing.

As an individual with bilateral hearing loss, she is interested in the effects of hearing impairment on mental health and resource accessibility for young people. Her academic interests include criminal justice, social advocacy, and the experiences of marginalized communities in New York City.

Her research paper "Who Owns Manhattan’s Chinatown? Activism at MOCA," which examines the complex issue of space as a place of protest, was selected for the 2026 issue of John Jay's Finest. Additionally, she earned an internship with CUNY Career Launch for summer 2026.

Click here to read Zheng’s piece “Who Owns Manhattan’s Chinatown? Activism at MOCA”