Meet Our Students 2024

My name is Aidan and I will be entering my 3L year this fall as a full-time student in the on-campus program. I was raised in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, just north of the Twin Cities. This summer I will have the opportunity to clerk at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

After being accepted into law school, I felt both excited about my new journey and apprehensive about how I would handle the weight on top of the life I was already living.

The JumpStart Pre-1L Program helped prepare for me law school by:

• Building community
• Diving into the 1L experience
• Prioritizing wellbeing
• Developing and enhancing study skills: The Academic Excellence team will share strategies for how to approach your courses and introduce critical reading, case briefing, and IRAC writing for exams.

Once again, congratulations!
Aidan Lorentzen

Aluu! Paglan! Hello, and welcome. Uvana Tautuk Will Vandergriff. My Iñupiaq name is Tautuk, but call me Will Vandergriff. I am a proud Inupiat, from Alaska’s North Slope, and an enrolled member with the Native Village of Shishmaref (Qiqiqtaq).

Paa ilat nanmiñiq Mitchell Hamlinetun. Welcome to the Mitchell Hamline extended family. We’re happy you chose to grow here, and are ready to help, regardless of whether or not you choose to join our Native American Law Student Association family. I am currently the Co-Vice President.

Mitchell Hamline has proven to be right place for me in pursuing a certificate through the Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute. I am a non-traditional law student who found the law after a prior career in public service back home in Alaska. The school is full of people from diverse backgrounds, with just as diverse points of view. There is a group here for anyone, and ample opportunity to get a good support system in place.

Do not hesitate to reach out to a group on campus like NALSA. We are the largest and most active student organization, and we welcome Indigenous and allies all the same. Anayanaitchin. Be safe. Taiguallatukun. I hope you enjoy reading. Lots of that to come.

All the best,
Will

Greetings! My name is Wendy Jeter, and I am a 2L student at Mitchell Hamline. Reminiscing on the amazing experiences I had during my first year, I would not trade my school for the world.

From the beginning, Mitchell Hamline offered the amazing JumpStart program to usher us in and emphasize their commitment to our mental and educational success. The administration and faculty continued to prove that commitment by always addressing any questions or concerns I had promptly.

As a blended learner, there are unlimited ways to be involved at Mitchell Hamline. During my 1L year, I served as a board member for the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). Throughout the year I submitted several proposals for events to connect our school with the community. Without hesitation, BLSA accepted, and they were all successful. I also served as the class representative on the Student Bar Association (SBA). My biggest accomplishment with SBA was being tasked to organize a massive headshot event alone for the entire school and completing it successfully.

Overall, I would strongly suggest that incoming students take the opportunity to get involved!

Wendy Jeter

Hello! Congratulations on your admission to Mitchell Hamline School of Law! All of your hard work has paid off and you should be beyond proud of yourself!

My name is Tianna. I am a Tribal Member of Upper Sioux Community (one of four federally recognized Dakota Tribes in Minnesota). I am a full-time, in-person student entering into my 3rd and final year here at Mitchell Hamline. I currently serve as a Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) Co-Vice President.

Be patient with yourself as you begin your law school journey. Everything may seem overwhelming when you first start, but just take each day at a time and you will get acclimated in no time! I recommend getting yourself into a routine because consistency will help you settle those nerves! Journaling your thoughts in the morning or at night helps leave all those insecurities and worries on the page instead of taking up space in your mind.
The JumpStart Pre-1L Program introduces you to more wellbeing tips like the ones I mentioned, exposes you to the 1L experience, and helps you to start building community. I know you will shine bright!

Warmly,
Tianna M. Odegard (she/her/hers)

Congratulations on your admission to Mitchell Hamline School of Law! Welcome to the beginning of an amazing journey.

My name is Sean and I am a 2L student in the Blended program. I am a husband and father of two amazing daughters living in Woodbury, MN who has spent the last 14 years in corporate finance and is looking to move into a career as a lawyer.
I was inspired by my mom, who went to law school at age 50, as well as some friends who had
entered the Blended program and spoke highly of it.

I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I accepted my offer to law school, but the JumpStart Pre-1L Program helped me understand what to expect, how to prepare, and how to succeed during my first semester. I would highly encourage you to participate so you can get off to the best start possible!

Look forward to seeing you there,
Sean Vinsel

¡Bienvenidos! Salut and congratulations on your admission to MHSL! Every moment leading up to this has prepared you to make your own mark in your unique manner.

My name is Melanie Aranda Tawil and I am a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in San Antonio, Texas where my family has lived for eight generations. I’m a rising 3L and non-traditional student in the blended-learning program at MHSL and a mom of two wonderful kids married to my one-time rival whom I met while working on the 2008 Barack Obama for President Campaign. I’m a current member of the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of Trustees, appointed by the City Council of San Antonio, and your proud President of the Latine Law Students Association (LLSA).

Transitioning to law school can be a blur where you have the best of intentions, only to have roadblocks pop up. The support from the faculty at MHSL has facilitated my professional, personal, and emotional growth and I cannot commend them enough. At MHSL, I have been able to become a published author with their connections at the Ramsey County Bar Association, write for the Journal for Public Policy and Practice, advocate for Parents and Caregivers Attending Law School, speak to lawyers through CLEs on mental health, and disassemble the notion of “work-life balance” in favor of a holistic “strings of prioritization.” All of this was from having earnest conversations with our faculty and staff where they encouraged me to always be my authentic self.

Hi all! Welcome to Mitchell Hamline! My name is Kennedy, and I am a rising 2L in the evening (in-person) program. I am a first-generation college student, mother and law clerk for a personal injury firm in the Twin Cities. I first felt persuaded to apply to law school shortly after a Supreme Court decision affecting women’s rights and health decisions was overturned.

Shortly after being accepted, I had thousands of questions! (Do I belong here? How am I going to make this work? Is this what I want?) Luckily, Mitchell Hamline offered a JumpStart program where I could send in my questions and see other students in positions similar to mine answer them. MHSL is a community full of supportive, caring, intelligent and thoughtful people who continue to advocate for this community.

Some quick tips – read the docket, network, put yourself out there, make a study group, take the stairs furthest away from your classroom so you aren’t so out of breath when you get to class. We can do hard things. This is a huge leap, so lean in!

Please feel free to reach out with questions, or if
you’re just looking for somebody to grab coffee
and walk with! I’m always happy to chat. (Seriously!)

Best,
Kennedy Kispert | Kennedy.Kispert@mitchellhamline.edu

Hello and welcome to life, not only as a law student, but as a parent or caregiver. We are excited that you are here and hope to support you while you are here.

I am Keisha Montgomery Torres, a 3L and President of PALS – Parents and Caregivers Attending Law School.

PALS is designed to support parents, future parents, and caregivers navigating the challenging, yet rewarding, journey of law school. Welcoming all types of families, PALS offers peer support, resources, and information to
help members balance their academic and caregiving duties. Our organization actively advocates for policies that benefit student-parents and caregivers – working closely with school administration. With an emphasis on inclusivity and self-care, PALS organizes events promoting mental and physical well-being while balancing two demanding roles. Join us to connect with a community that understands and supports your unique challenges and triumphs. As we all know, it takes a village to raise children or care for family and even more so while in law school. Let PALS be that village.

If you are interested in joining PALS, please feel free to reach out to me at keisha.torres@mitchellhamline.edu.

We look forward to hearing from you and supporting you in this next step towards your, and your family’s, future.

Tanyan yahi! Welcome! And congratulations on your admission to Mitchell Hamline School of Law. You are about to embark on an amazing journey where you’ll learn not only about the law, but how you can create lasting change.

My name is Keeli Siyaka (she/her/winyan). I am an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, a rising 3L, and this year’s Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) President. I attend Mitchell Hamline as a full-time, in-person student and love the community we have created on campus and off.

Finding your support system–those faculty, staff, and peers that can encourage and uplift you–is the best advice I can offer. Law school is a whirlwind and will challenge you to bring your best to every class and assignment. When it gets difficult, having a community to see you through is everything. The JumpStart Pre-1L Program is a great way to connect with campus affinity groups like NALSA, meet other rising 1Ls, introduce yourself to Professors and start building community before classes even begin.

I wish you the best on your law school journey!

Sincerely,
Keeli Siyaka

Hello! We are so excited for you to join us this fall at Mitchell Hamline!

My name is Jordan Favors, and I am a 2L in the blended-learning program. I live in Dallas, Texas where I bartend and substitute teach.

As I approached my first day, I was incredibly nervous but hopeful. I feared the unknown and longed for a sense of community. Fortunately, Mitchell Hamline celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity in such an exceptional way.

About halfway through prep week, I expressed that I felt overwhelmed and was encouraged by a staff member that was so eager to support me. It became clear that each and every staff member at Mitchell Hamline is genuinely dedicated to not just catering to our academic success but also our mental and emotional wellbeing.

At JumpStart, you will get to meet other 1Ls and hear from current students and staff. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to expose yourself to what a law school classroom is really like, what lawyers really do on a daily basis, and so much more.

Jordan Favors

My name is Jaida Shellaugh, and I am the President of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA). Our organization serves as a supportive community for African American students to freely express themselves on campus. We are dedicated to advocating for the needs and concerns of our student body.

If you would like to join BLSA and receive our newsletter, please email blsa@mitchellhamline.edu to be added to our mailing list.

We wish you the best of luck for the upcoming school year and encourage you to consider becoming a part of our organization.

Best regards,
Black Law Student Association

Hello! My name is Hugo and I am a rising 4L student in the blended-learning program.

I am a Peruvian American husband and father of two boys who decided to return to law school after not making “it” the first time. I thought I could apply my undergraduate skills to law school. Ultimately, I realized I did not know what I did not know. I did not appreciate that law school would require a new way of learning.

But when one door closes, another one opens.

Fast forward, I started school in 2021 with self-doubt and suffering from full-blown imposter syndrome. Wow, I was so relieved. My history and experiences were not liabilities but rather advantages.

At Mitchell Hamline, students make the law come alive. With such a variety of lives, our class discussions are lively, poignant, and filled
with real-life adventures. Former police officers
share their perspectives, sitting next to social
activists. Business owners and CEOs describe
how these laws affect their daily lives.

The law comes alive.

Hugo Orlando Scavino (he/him)

Objective secured! You’ve worked hard and it has paid off. Take a moment to appreciate all the dedication and perseverance that has gotten you here…

Hello, my name is Gabriel McInnis. I am a 2L law student and President of the Mitchell Hamline Student Veterans Association. I lived in the Twin Cities during my first year and thoroughly enjoyed my time in Minnesota, especially appreciating its beautiful outdoors.

Choosing to pursue law as my second career was not an easy decision. As a disabled Marine veteran, I understand firsthand the obstacles law students must overcome to reach this milestone. The journey is demanding, but support makes all the difference.
The community and staff at Mitchell Hamline, who embraced me when I traveled from Arizona, won’t eliminate your obstacles, but they’ll be there with you every step of the way. I can personally attest to the exceptional support provided by MHSL that immediately made me feel at home. Their commitment to inclusivity and student success is unparalleled.

Now, gear up for your next mission: Law School.
Embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead
with confidence; you’ve already demonstrated
the resilience and determination needed for success.
The road may be tough, but you are tougher.

Godspeed,
Gabriel McInnis

Hello! Congratulations on your admission to Mitchell Hamline School of Law! You should be incredibly proud of yourself!

My name is Brieanna. I am a first-generation Portuguese Canadian law student and currently a 2L in the blended-learning program at Mitchell Hamline, pursuing a JD/MBA. As a dual degree international student, I understand the excitement and challenges that come with the endeavor of professional studies. I’ve experienced a blend of anticipation and adjustment that accompanies studying in a new environment.

To be entirely honest with you, transitioning to being an international law student was quite daunting initially. What’s been most reassuring is the incredible support system provided by faculty. That’s why I can’t recommend the JumpStart program enough. It’s not just an orientation, it’s a chance to connect with your future support network and gain valuable insights into what lies ahead. From building friendships to learning how to prioritize your wellbeing, JumpStart covers all the essentials to ensure you’re ready for the road ahead.

Kindest wishes,
Brieanna Maria Da Silva

Congratulations and welcome!

My name is Amber and I am finishing my second year at Mitchell Hamline. I am a full-time, in-person student. A little about me: I graduated college in 2017 and worked full-time as a family law paralegal before attending law school.

Upon starting law school, I experienced a wide range of emotions, including self-doubt. I quickly learned that every law student goes through this—even if it doesn’t seem like they do! Finding support in your Mitchell Hamline community is a fantastic way to offset any of these feelings. Building a community has helped me effectively navigate law school and life outside of law school.

To best prepare yourself for this new journey, I encourage you to participate in the JumpStart Pre-1L Program. JumpStart is a 4-day program that will kickstart your law school experience and allow you to meet other
rising 1Ls who will become part of your
community.

I hope to see you all at JumpStart in August!

Best,
Amber E. Magnussen (she/her/hers)