James Velissaris is the youngest of five children and was born and grew up in Chicago and neighboring areas. James was a stand-out performer academically and athletically throughout his childhood and adolescence. He was the captain of his football team in high school and was part of the Illinois all-state team in 2001. He graduated high school with strong academic performance and was accepted to Harvard University where he also continued playing football for the Crimson. At Harvard, he played varsity football and majored in Economics while working full-time to pay for his education. His work started on Dorm Crew cleaning bathrooms on campus and eventually, he obtained a data analyst position for a company focused on campus security. It was through this experience that James developed his passion for the Economics of Crime and criminal justice reform. Upon graduation, James continued his studies at Columbia University where he obtained an MS in Operations Research. James worked on wall street for 16 years as an investment researcher, trader, and eventually portfolio manager. James was accused of securities fraud over disagreements about the valuations of complex derivatives during the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020. James is currently serving his sentence in Jesup, Georgia. James has maintained a close relationship with his mother and four siblings throughout his incarceration and feels so blessed to have the support of his family in this challenging season of his life. At Jesup, James is an ACE class teacher of Economics and focuses on uplifting as many inmates as possible. His family introduced him to the Prison Professors Program and it resonated immediately with his plan of action that he had created since arriving in prison. James is excited about all of the good that can be done through the Prison Professors Program and has been a staunch advocate for other inmates at the Jesup FSL facility.
