Our new graduate degree students come from 25 states, 26 countries, and 12 indigenous nations or groups from North America and around the world. I read the names of each of these states, countries, and nations in one alphabetical list to the new students at orientation.

Argentina Arizona The Aymara Australia Bolivia Brazil California Cameroon Canada Cherokee Nation Chickaloon Native Village Chile China Colombia Connecticut Costa Rica Delaware Tribe of Indians Ecuador France Ghana Hawaii

Honágháahnii (Diné) Illinois India Indiana Iowa Iran Isleta Pueblo Italy Kansas Kenya Kentucky Massachusetts Mexico Missouri Navajo Nation Nebraska Nebraska Omaha Tribe Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York

Nigeria North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon Pakistan Peru Saudi Arabia Sac and Fox Nation South Carolina South Korea Standing Rock Sioux Tanzania Texas Tohono O'odham Nation Ukraine USA Utah Virginia Washington West Virginia Wiradjuri Nation

Our new students join a student body that is already an international learning lab. They join upper-division students from 13 additional states and 13 additional countries, bringing our totals to 38 US states and 39 countries across the current student body. That is a good percentage of all US states (and we have alumni working in all of those states); a fair percentage of all nations; and a tiny fraction of the 5,000 or so indigenous groups in the world.

 

The class includes first-generation Americans and several who are the first in their family to go to law or graduate school. Some are the first in their families to have attended college. A significant number are older than 30, and many came with spouses, partners, and kids.

These new students already have a passion for the law and for service to others. More than a dozen participated in mock trial or were leaders in an undergraduate pre-law fraternity. Ten have already worked in law firms. Two have served in Americorps. Seven have served our country in the Armed Forces, in positions from corporal to captain, and one is still considered active military. Most in the group have had deep experiences serving as volunteers or through membership in an NGO. One founded an organization to help people out of homelessness.

 

They are also singers, dancers, writers, journalists, scientists, rock climbers, hikers, chess-players, and competitive athletes (NCAA included).