I have a deep and abiding reverence for the democratic ideals upon which this nation was founded. My fidelity to those foundational principles fueled my desire to attend Willamette University College of Law after completing my undergraduate studies. In recent days, however, this nation has drifted away from the principles of equity and equal justice under the law, which are the heart and soul of this republic. Being a mixed heritage member of the LGBTQ+ community from an economically underprivileged background, I have personally experienced the injustice at the center of the modern American experience. My commitment to reforming our institutions and to public service are why I chose to study law, and why I decided to pursue a specialization in Public and Nonprofit Management as part of my undergraduate degree. Through my studies at Willamette, I developed abilities in legal research, writing, and analysis, as well as a broad understanding of American jurisprudence; all of which will allow me to more effectively influence the legal and public policy choices that have created our current discriminatory, fiscally irresponsible, unjust, and ultimately untenable political economy.

My dedication to serving disadvantaged communities is reflected in my chosen extracurricular activities. During my time at Willamette, I served as a Co-Chair of the school’s Law and Political Economy Project chapter, where I worked in conjunction with other LPE members to organize events with the goal of raising awareness among my fellow law students about the detrimental impact that the current socio-economic paradigm poses to our planet, to our democracy, and to the systematically dispossessed within our society. I also served as the President of the Black Law Students Association, which I worked to reestablish. Part of that work included drafting the chapter’s Constitution and Bylaws. I also served as a Coordinator of the Solidarity! group, which is a weekly, informal conversational space for students who may feel dehumanized by the traditional law school experience, or who feel that their perspectives are not welcome within the law school classroom. I also served as a student mentor for the Oregon State Bar’s Opportunities for Law in Oregon program (OLIO), and as a member of the Student Bar Association’s Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion committee. Additionally, I also served as a writer and editor for Willamette Law Online, where I produced short summaries of various Ninth Circuit, and Oregon Appellate Court opinions.