Braxton Thomas

It is with great pride that I announce my candidacy for President of the Student Bar Association (SBA). As I step forward in my candidacy, I do so with a profound sense of responsibility and a clear vision for the path ahead. My journey through law school, along with my involvement in student advocacy and leadership roles is indicative of my dedication to service, equity, and collaboration across the Mitchell Hamline community. As SBA President, I will work to foster and maintain transparency between faculty, administration, and students.

I’ve had the pleasure of serving as a 1L Section Representative and At-Large Representative for SBA. Additionally, I served as the Social Chair and Community Liaison for the Black Law Students Association. In each mentioned role, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside my peers in pursuit of a stronger and more active student body. For example, I organized and facilitated the virtual and in-person 2023-2024 Student Organization Fair. As President, those efforts will continue to make sure each committee’s work is aligned with our mission positively contributing to our collective experience. My first priority is my fellow students. I will strive to ensure our SBA is responsive to your needs and works to enhance our academic and social stature. I’m a firm believer that students thrive in collaborative environments with peer and administrative support.

I understand the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between students and the Mitchell Hamline faculty and administration. With our unique demographic, I will work to represent the collective interests of BAM and Blended students during meetings with faculty and our Board of Trustees. Chairing the Executive Committee, our meetings will not serve as a checked box, but as a platform for purposeful dialogue, decision-making, and implementation. Alongside the Treasurer, I will prioritize secure accounting procedures to safeguard our Treasury funds and promote financial integrity.

While serving in various capacities, I have acquired transferrable skills that have prepared me for this role. My vision for the Mitchell Hamline Student Bar Association is one of collaboration, unity, student empowerment, and integrity. I am ready to lead alongside the student body, but most importantly listen to your feedback to facilitate growth.

With your support, WE can make this vision a reality! I humbly ask for your vote to serve as the 2024-2025 President of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law Student Bar Association.

Gloria McKinney

It is with joy and peace that I seek the position of Vice President of our Student Bar Association. Recognizing the diverse backgrounds and experiences that make up our student body, I am committed to ensuring that every voice is heard and every concern is advocated for with zeal. I believe that the SBA’s role in promoting and supporting student organizations is key to supplementing our education, fostering professional growth, and building meaningful social connections. I am passionate about continuing our SBA’s tradition of hosting annual social events that spark friendships and strengthen professional networks, encouraging a peaceful and collaborative atmosphere.

As Vice President, I will strive to embody the qualities of effective leadership—strong communication, strategic organization, and a vision that focuses on progress and unity. My role on the Board will involve being a direct liaison between the SBA and our various student organizations, and I aim to build open channels for consistent, transparent communication. By co-chairing the Leadership Council, I look forward to collaborating with you all to identify and solve the issues most important to our community. Together, we will shape the future of SBA into an adaptable body that is responsive to your needs and advocates for your success at every opportunity.

I will ensure our committees are appointed with care, and manage the Student Leadership Office with organization and dedication, always keeping our goals in focus. It’s important that as leaders, we remain both adaptable and steadfast, and I am ready to step into any challenges that come my way with enthusiasm and grace. With a peaceful heart and a strategic mind, I am excited to advocate for you, bringing energy and structure to our efforts to elevate every student’s experience. Thank you for your support!

BAM Section 1

First, I’d like to quickly introduce myself— after all, I’ve only been here a little while! I am originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, the state I lived in until I moved to the Twin Cities in the summer of 2018, just in time to catch the most severe winter I have ever seen. Like many of my classmates, my academic journey was unconventional and included a significant hiatus out of necessity. However, as I constantly remind myself, “a wizard is never late… nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.” If Gandalf was wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

I have a strong belief in a grassroots approach to leadership, particularly with elected positions. I applied that philosophy in previous professional work to great success, whether as an art director for film and commercial production, or as an office manager for an independent moving company. Without earning and maintaining the support and trust of my teams, those titles would mean nothing. I feel the same way about any elected position.

One goal I plan to promote is a more complete encouragement and facilitation of activity-based affinity groups within Mitchell Hamline. I believe that low-obligation student clubs such as a film club or a writing circle would be welcome, regular respites from studying, but would also foster greater connections within our student community on new levels.

More than anything, I will approach the position with an open mind and an open door to any concerns or ideas my classmates would like to pursue by way of SBA.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Mitchell Hamline’s 1L BAM Section 1 student body, and the possibility of lending my skills and effort to the common good of our school in this position. Thank you for your time and consideration.

For example, during my undergraduate studies I experienced food insecurity; food insecurity could be a concern for many of us during law school. Since we do not currently have a food pantry at Mitchell Hamline (like many law schools do), it is my goal to help establish one. In big ways or small, I will represent and support our section during our first year of law school.

BAM Section 2

My name is Donald Gaines, and I am running to be your representative for our section on the Student Bar Association.

Some background details,

I have spent most of my life in the American South, over 20 years of it in Fayetteville North Carolina. I come from an ARMY family, so me and my family got used to moving around every 3 to 4 years, before we settled in NC. I am also a member of the Oneida Indian Nation of New York, they reside within the town of Oneida, about 30 minutes East of Syracuse City in upstate New York.

I mostly spend my down time watching comedy shows and movies, playing the occasional strategy video game (Total War/Stellaris). But like most of you now it’s mostly just reading cases and writing for LARC.

I have a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies with a minor in Management. After graduation I spent a year working for my tribe (Oneida Nation Enterprises) as the tribes Youth Development Program Coordinator. It was my job to plan out most of the tribe’s youth events such as afterschool programs, field trips, summer programs, the community Halloween and Christmas party, & Easter event. So, as you can guess I am no stranger to helping plan and carrying out major events, recruiting volunteers, and creating programs. I like to think that gives me some decent experience for the role of student representative.

I live close to the school and have grown fond of the faculty, staff, and students here, and hope that in some small way I can help improve things for the school and my fellow students. Do not hesitate to talk to me and let me know what you are thinking.

Good luck with the semester, and remember you are not alone, keep helping one another and checking in on each other and we can all come out the other side! We got this!!

BAM Section 3

I come from a background that includes experience in corporate DEI committee participation and in my profession I currently collaborate with a diverse community spanning significant differences in race, class, and education.

Throughout my service in DEI and my current work, I have learned to work alongside all types of people to represent, amplify, and serve not only their individual interests, but the shared interests and values that unite us.

This is the experience I hope to bring into the SBA in order to clearly represent shared interests and avoid individual agendas or voices from dominating a space that was meant for everyone. I promise to uphold each voice with integrity and care and to ensure that all are represented fairly in how I exercise the voting power that is entrusted to me as a representative of my cohort.

Blended Section 1

I’m John Dirgo Deweese, and I’m throwing my hat into the ring (or perhaps more accurately, connecting my laptop to the network – I am a geek, after all) to be your representative on the Student Bar Association.

I’m not here to promise you guaranteed A’s in all your classes or to bore you with a long list of lofty goals. Instead, I want to offer something a bit more down-to-earth: a commitment to serving you, my fellow students, and a belief that together, we can make our law school experience even better.

Why Me?

Because I’m foolish enough to ask for even more work when we are all overwhelmed. In all seriousness, I believe I bring a unique blend of qualities to the table:

I’m old. I’ve seen some $%!&. But at the same time, I’m one of you: I’m not running for this position because I want to add a shiny bullet point to my resume. I’m doing it because I genuinely care about our class and want to make a positive impact. I’ve felt the same stresses, celebrated the same triumphs, and had the same last-second assignment submissions as you. You know, the ones where you just feel sick in the pit of your stomach but don’t have even one more minute to work on it any longer? Been there. Allegedly.

I believe in open communication: Let’s face it, law school is tough. We’re all juggling demanding coursework, families, work, and the occasional existential crisis about our future careers. That’s why I’m committed to taking the great environment we have at Mitchell Hamline and helping it become even greater. Whether it’s advocating for better mental health resources (although Dean LeMoine has already done a great job on that), streamlining academic processes, or simply creating more opportunities for us to connect and de-stress, I’ll be your voice.

I’m a bridge-builder: I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and work collaboratively with student leaders, faculty, and staff to achieve our shared goals. I believe in building strong relationships based on trust, mutual respect, and a healthy dose of good humor. After all, a little laughter can go a long way in easing tensions and fostering a sense of camaraderie.

My Vision

I envision a Student Bar Association that’s truly representative of our diverse student body, one that actively listens to your concerns and acts on your behalf. I want to create a culture of transparency and accountability, where you know exactly what your representatives are doing and how they’re advocating for you.

I also want to foster a sense of community and belonging within our law school. Law school shouldn’t just be about hitting the books – it should also be about building lifelong friendships and professional networks. I’ll work to create more opportunities for us to connect, collaborate, and grow (both professionally and personally). While I didn’t create the Discord server for our class, I have tried to take initiative to improve it and make it a useful tool to either ask a serious question, get help, or just share a silly meme to blow off some steam.

In Conclusion

If you’re looking for a representative who’s approachable, dedicated, and willing to fight for your interests, then I’m your candidate. I’d appreciate your vote.

Thank you.

In law school, my goal is to pursue a career in dispute resolution, and family law, with a special focus on child advocacy. As our section representative, I want to bring my passion for helping others and my leadership experience to support our student body. This could involve listening to your concerns and addressing any uncertainties you have with the Joe’s, bringing topics to the attention of the administration, or finding additional resources to assist you during our studies. Whether it’s offering an extra cup of coffee during on-campus sessions or asking the tough questions, I’m driven to help and lead by example—even when it means learning through mistakes and being the example.

I believe that with your support, I can ensure that our section’s needs are represented, and together, we can make our law school experience stronger and more connected. I’m excited for the opportunity to serve as your section representative and be a voice for all of us.

Blended Section 2

With my background in leadership roles and nonprofit management, I bring experience in navigating complex organizational structures and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to achieve meaningful outcomes. My approach will focus on clear communication, transparency, and proactive problem-solving to create a supportive environment for all of us. Whether it’s addressing academic concerns, creating more networking opportunities, or improving student resources, I will work to ensure that the interests of our section are well-represented on the Board.

I would be honored to have your support and look forward to working with all of you to make our 1L experience impactful and successful. Thank you for your consideration!

Blended Section 3

Our unique journey, and life experiences give each of us the strength that we need to be exceptional together. What makes this section so special is the way that we uplift each other and work together as one unit. Our professors see this, and I experience this firsthand.

We need a leader who understands and exemplifies these characteristics. I am this leader. I will represent the incredible individuals of Section 3 because I understand firsthand the need for balance, flexibility, and support within our program. We have all come together with a shared goal: to better our lives and the lives of others through the practice of law. Our journey — one of the most important in our lives — is filled with personal sacrifices and significant commitments. It is vital that our voices are heard, and our concerns addressed, whether that pertains to academic support, resources for working professionals and parents, or, quite simply, having all-day coffee during prep week!

As your representative, I will advocate for the needs and concerns of all students in our section. I will ensure that we remain connected, supported, and heard within the larger Mitchell Hamline community. Together, we are proving that it is possible to balance our academic, professional, and personal responsibilities, and I would be honored to speak on behalf of such a resilient and dedicated group.

I look forward to serving and supporting you as we continue on this remarkable journey.

My name is Erik Doucette, and I am a 4L who began law school as a part-timer, and, within the last year, switched to full time enrollment. Prior to law school, I served student bodies at two graduate institutions. At Eastern Michigan University, I served in an adjudicatory role as the graduate student representative on the School of Music & Dance’s grade grievance committee. At the University of Iowa School of Music, I worked with the interim dean to organize and hold the first election for the new student advisory committee, and was elected to serve as the representative for the Conducting area. With my broad student and student government experience, I believe that I am well-suited to serve the Mitchell Hamline student body in this judicial role. A vote for me is a vote revitalized student government!

As the co-founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization, I have firsthand experience in creating and managing essential governance documents such as bylaws, articles of incorporation, and conflict of interest policies. These documents are fundamental in ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making, values that directly align with the responsibilities of the Judicial Council.

The Judicial Council’s role in upholding the SBA Constitution and Bylaws is essential to maintaining the integrity of our student community. I am committed to approaching this responsibility with the same focus on fairness, transparency, and diligence that I bring to my commitment to my nonprofit.

I would be honored to serve and bring my experience in governance to this important position. Thank you for your support.

My name is Fancy Mua, and I am a fellow 3L BAM student. My motivation to run for this position stems from my personal involvement in student-led organizations. I currently serve on the Minnesota Justice Foundation student chapter board as the State Board Representative and on the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association board as the Secretary. I believe that the foundation of a successful student-led organization rests on integrity, transparency, and accountability, and this begins with a board that is committed to following the established rules and bylaws.

Serving on the SBA Judicial Council will allow me to advocate for these principles, ensuring that every student feels empowered, heard, and respected. It would be an honor to serve and work alongside two of our peers to uphold SBA standards.

Thank you!

My name is Meioshei Nash and I am running for a position on the SBA Judicial Council. I believe it is essential to interpret the meanings of the SBA constitution and bylaws and investigate any allegations of misconduct or violations. Please vote for me so I can make a difference.