Nicholas Brown (he/they) is an undergraduate student at Columbia University, pursuing a major in Black Studies with a concentration in Sociology. His research examines the intersection of Black queer and feminist history, carceral history, and prison abolition. His current research project explores the history of the Gay Housing Unit on Rikers Island, and the segregation of queer incarcerated populations. He is the 2024 recipient of the Columbia-Barnard Spirit of 1968 Sankofa Prize, recognizing his promotion of social justice for Black people through civic engagement, political activism and community building on campus and beyond.