The mysterious disappearance of a nine-year-old Black child from her home in the middle of the night. A Haitian security guard killed by New York City police under strange circumstances. An activist murdered while defending the Amazonian rainforests against illegal logging. These injustices and others are examined in an ongoing podcast series by one of SUNY Potsdam’s own— Nyasha Saint Arromand-Wells ’16— who delves into unsolved crimes with an eye to understanding and highlighting the stark difference in how crime is treated depending on the racial and socioeconomic status of the victim.
“When I first arrived in the U.S. as a child, Asha Degree’s disappearance was the first missing child case I was ever aware of, and it deeply resonated with me,” she said. “When I began my podcast and discovered her case was still unsolved, it reignited my emotional connection from childhood.”
“Island Noir: Beyond the Palm Trees” is part of her advocacy on behalf of the marginalized and the voiceless, informed by a deep sense of humanity and a desire to reach those whose needs are most likely to go unnoticed. Through unflinching examination of fact, the podcast series aims to shed light on survivors of human trafficking, those who lost their lives defending the environment, and slain civil rights advocates.
“I wanted to highlight those lesser-known stories, not just in the U.S. but globally,” she said. “I believe everyone deserves justice, attention, respect, and dignity, regardless of demographics. If mainstream media isn’t covering these narratives adequately, it becomes my responsibility to share their stories respectfully, thoughtfully, neutrally.”
As a child, Saint Arromand-Wells went back and forth between Haiti and the U.S., eventually settling in Haverstraw, N.Y., as a teenager. She was not a particularly attentive student, and college was not initially on her radar. She planned to join the military out of high school but ended up stumbling across SUNY Potsdam and discovering the Educational Opportunity Program, which gives support and opportunities to traditionally underserved student populations.
“That made a huge difference to me personally and financially,” she said. “When I visited [SUNY Potsdam], I fell in love with the scenery first, and eventually, the community itself grew on me too.”
Saint Arromand-Wells’s dedication to justice goes far beyond her unblinking look at the dark side. An Air Force veteran who is also a martial arts instructor, she has a keen sense for the bewildering effects of violence and inequity. With a master’s degree in criminal justice from Bellevue University—where she was the student commencement speaker— and a bachelor’s in sociology and criminal justice from Potsdam, Saint Arromand-Wells is skilled in investigation, research, victim advocacy, legal analysis, and risk assessment.
“Choosing criminal justice was natural for me—I grew up witnessing significant political instability and injustice firsthand,” she recalled. “My father was very revolutionary and an activist in his own right, and I think his passion heavily influenced my drive to pursue justice and advocacy.”
Once in Potsdam, the faculty made a huge impact on Saint Arromand-Wells’s college experience. Her criminal justice studies gave her a deeper and more nuanced sense of justice and helped her bring a critical eye to systems, institutions and human behavior. With this learning, her sense of empathy and perspective also sharpened.
“My professors provided a safe and supportive environment that encouraged open discussion about difficult topics like systemic racism, inequality and reform,” she said. “Having professors who actively engaged students in dialog about real-world issues empowered me to become not just a passive learner but an active participant in advocating for justice.”
Graduating from Potsdam, Saint Arromand-Wells took valuable lessons with her into the Air Force, where she was selected for Below the Zone, an early promotion opportunity reserved for servicepeople who show exceptional promise in professionalism, leadership and excellence. She also received the A1 Award for outstanding contributions to the field of personnel and administrative management. While doing graduate studies at Bellevue University, she was inducted into the Omega Nu Lambda Honor Society. All of these honors pale, however, compared to the privilege of serving as a casualty assistance representative in the Air Force.
“Supporting families during some of their most difficult moments taught me invaluable lessons about empathy, compassion and service,” she said, “shaping me both professionally and personally in ways no formal award could.”
With her true crime podcast serving as a critical creative outlet for her passion for criminal justice and storytelling, Saint Arromand-Wells is working to establish herself in the arenas of justice reform, investigation and victim advocacy—with an eye to attending law school and becoming a prosecutor.
And continuing to fight the good fight.
“My deep love and my pride for my Haitian culture and my community inspires everything I do,” she concluded. “As I always say, ‘Haitian first, Cuban in the mix, African forever.’”
Story by Bret Yager. Photos courtesy Nyasha Saint Arromand-Wells