What is your job/position?
Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). I work for an agency within the DOJ called the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). I specifically work at an immigration court. We adjudicate all immigration cases in the US.
Describe the path that took you from your American Studies degree to your current career or life situation.
I realized as a junior in college that I should go to law school. I took a gap year to work and travel. I started law school (also at BYU) in 2019. I completed my JD and my MPA in 2022. I applied to the Attorney General’s Honors Program and was admitted. I have been working here since then.
What are the specific competencies you cultivated as an American Studies student that you now use in your professional life and that set you apart from your colleagues?
It taught me to be a great writer and to be very versatile. In an interdisciplinary major like American Studies, you have to be quick to learn and master new disciplines. That has helped me immensely as a lawyer. It also makes me a more well-rounded person. I am conversant in so many topics, which helps not only in my work but also in networking.
What are some of the surprising ways in which your American Studies degree has helped you in your professional or personal life?
It gave me the confidence that I could do basically any job and be successful.
What do you wish you had known as an American Studies student? What advice would you share with current students?
I would just take a broad array of classes in as many disciplines as you can. Develop your writing and analytical skills. Learn how to construct an argument. Also, do internships and/or go on a study abroad. Maximize the access to funding at BYU. Finally, pair your major with a minor that enriches your education and gives you greater skills or capacity.