TJSL Welcomes Fall 2013 Incoming Students
August 12, 2013
“You have really made one of the most important decisions of your life,” said Dean Thomas Guernsey as he welcomed the Fall 2013 incoming class of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law on Monday, August 12, at the start of a week-long orientation. “You have chosen to become a lawyer, and have chosen to take on a set of responsibilities that can truly change you forever. You are about to join a profession that many believe, including myself, provides a cornerstone of stability to this country.”
Maral Nicole Mehrabian is from L.A. and is thrilled to be a Criminal Law Fellow at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. “I am excited to start at TJSL and I am extremely excited to explore San Diego! But I have to admit that I am also nervous about not knowing anyone. Hopefully, that will all change soon.”
Associate Dean for Student Affairs Beth Kransberger introduced herself, along with members of the TJSL faculty and staff, and said “Welcome to the law school – we are thrilled to finally have you here!”
During her opening remarks, Dean Kransberger explained that 11% of the incoming class has served our country through military service. “We have current and former members of the Marine Corps, the Army, the Air Force, the Coast Guard and the Navy,” noted Dean Kransberger. “Thirty-one percent of you are coming to us from outside the state of California. You come to us from 32 different states. Sixteen percent of you were born outside of the U.S and are from 23 different countries.”
“It took me four days and 3800 miles to get to San Diego from Anchorage, Alaska but it was totally worth it,” said Criminal Law Fellow Coleman Alguire. “I am excited to get started.”
“This is a wonderful school,” said New Yorker Jeryl Wilford. “The opportunities they have here at TJSL are bar none to the other places that I considered. I am grateful to have received an IP (Intellectual Property) fellowship and I am extremely interested in sports law.” Welford is one of 56 incoming students who recently move into Entrada, the student housing apartment complex where 136 other TJSL students also live.
Third year TJSL law student Jay B Campbell (3L) helped the Admissions team welcome the incoming class. “I told some of these students today that it seems like only yesterday that I was doing this and now I am planning to graduate in May,” said Campbell. “I told them to enjoy it because the time goes so fast.”
New student Theo Montgomery is from Jackson, Mississippi and is excited to call himself a San Diego resident now. “I wanted to do something and be somewhere different and San Diego and the Thomas Jefferson School of law provided that,” said Montgomery. “I am really ready to get into the groove of things. I am really ready for classes to get started.”
In total, the Thomas Jefferson School of Law welcomed 265 new full-time and part-time students for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Fall 2013 Entering Class Profile
60% are full-time students and 40% are part-time.
11% are current and former members of the Marines, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and the Navy.
35% are first generation college students.
54% are the first in their families to attend graduate school.
50% are over the age of 25 and range in age from 22 to 52. 18% of the class is age 30 or older.
The class is 50% students of color.
4% are self-identified as LGBT.
31% are from outside the state of California.
8% grew up in rurally isolated areas.
They come from 32 states including: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Virginia, Utah, Washington state, Wisconsin and the territory of Puerto Rico.
16% were born outside the U.S., in 25 countries, including: Algeria, China, Columbia, Japan, Iraq, Australia, Pakistan, Romania, Canada, Afghanistan, Iran, the Philippines, Saipan, Germany, India, England, Mexico, South Korea, El Salvador, Thailand, Armenia, Korea, Malaysia and the Ukraine.
16% speak at least one of 14 other non-English languages, including: Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, Fijan, Hindi, Kher, Korean, Lao, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.
They represent 141 different undergrad institutions.
40% come from the University of California or CSU system schools.
Collectively, they represent 50 different undergrad majors from Electrical Engineering to Music.