Who is Victor St. John, 'Love Is Blind' cast member and OSU professor?

" Love Is Blind" season 10 is already filled with drama and walking red flags, yet one character has emerged into a fan favorite and – what some would say – is the greenest flag among the group.

Victor St. John, a 34-year-old Ohio State assistant professor, quickly became beloved among viewers in the Ohio-based reality television show where couples search for love without seeing their partner until engagement. Viewers have praised his emotional intelligence, steady demeanor and thoughtful conversations – it's no wonder he got engaged.

St. John proposed to Christine Hamilton in the pods, and the two were sent off on a Malibu getaway , instead of the Mexico trip with the rest of the cast because Netflix didn't have the resources to send more than six couples on the same vacation .

St. John and Hamilton were also looking for quality time and were less likely to stir up any drama on the show.

What happens with Victor St. John on 'Love Is Blind?'

Note: This section contains spoilers for "Love Is Blind "  season 10.

When the couple returned to Ohio in episodes released Feb. 18, St. John introduced Hamilton to his life in Columbus. He showed her where he works at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University, and cameras captured Mirror Lake and a walk through Topiary Park.

During one conversation, the two discussed raising biracial children. St. John reflected on his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, saying he was racially targeted by police. He told Hamilton he wants to teach their future children about "the history of our country... not from a place of victimhood, but understanding the world isn't color blind."

St. John's life beyond the pods

Off-screen, St. John's career centers on social policy and the criminal justice system.

He joined Ohio State in 2023 as an assistant professor. Before that, he was an assistant professor at Saint Louis University in Missouri.

St. John earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York, along with a master's degree in criminal justice with a specialization in criminal law from John Jay and a bachelor's degree in criminology from SUNY Old Westbury, according to his profile on the John Glenn Public Affairs website .

Before entering academia, he served as director of research and analysis for the New York City Board of Correction , an oversight agency for the city's Department of Correction and Correctional Health Services .

He also supervised youth detention and placement facilities under New York City's Close to Home initiative and delivered cognitive-based interventions to incarcerated youth at the Rikers Island jail complex as part of the nation's first social impact bond.

According to an Ohio State article published about St. John , he shared his decision to pursue academia was shaped by his time supervising youth detention facilities, including witnessing a child being physically restrained – an experience that made him want to be part of systemic change.

In addition to teaching and research at Ohio State, he serves as a research scientist at Child Trends , a nonprofit focused on improving outcomes for children, youth and families and volunteers with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, according to his LinkedIn profile .

On social media, St. John offers glimpses of his life outside the classroom and the pods : gym workouts, commentary on public policy issues such as SNAP benefits , visits with family during the holidays, and Black history reflections tied to the 1963 March on Washington.

For many viewers who have commented in his social media posts, it's that blend of a policy-minded academic, reflective partner and community volunteer that has cemented his reputation as one of season 10's most grounded contestants.

Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at  abayo@dispatch.com .

State government reporter and "Love Is Blind" correspondent Haley BeMiller contributed to this report and can be reached at  hbemiller@usatodayco.com  or @haleybemiller on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What to know about Ohio State professor Victor St. John on 'Love Is Blind'