Dean Students Attend National Black Pre-Law Conference at Harvard University
Five Pre-Law students at Dean had the unique opportunity to attend the National Black Pre-Law Conference at Harvard University. Through the joint efforts of Humanities in Action at Dean and the Office of the President, Gabriela Gomez-Ruiz ’26, Anaya Marte ’27, Joana Philistin ’24, Shauntel Smith ’25 and Xandra Silva ’27 were able to participate in the conference from November 17-18, 2023. First-year Anaya Marte, who is also minoring in Sociology, gave us a look inside both the conference events and the Pre-Law program here at Dean.
Q: Tell us a little about your experience as a Pre-Law major here at Dean.
Anaya: “The Pre-Law program here at Dean, especially the 3+3 program (with Western New England University School of Law), has allowed me to visualize what the next 6-7 years of my life will look like, which I find exceedingly comforting. Having a variety of resources available made me, a freshman, feel as though I could pursue my educational career with reasonable expectations, and a plethora of guidance. I know many students would love to be involved in programs that offer this amount of support, and I am beyond honored to have found a school that can provide that.”
Q: Tell us a little about the conference. What was the experience like? What did you learn at the conference?
Anaya: “I feel that I gained insight, inspiration, and valuable lessons. The panel boards consisted of lawyers, attorneys, as well as CEOs, and presidents of organizations that related to the well-being of those looking to pursue a career in law as well as Black students in general. One set of panelists varied from current law school students to the CEO and president of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. From this, I was able to visualize the hard work and dedication that is necessary to achieve such goals in this field and see how even the most seemingly detrimental errors can guide individuals to the professions of their dreams. Another set of panelists were people who created a book titled, “Lessons from Successful Black Lawyers,” and they discussed exactly what I had hoped: how to be successful. Many of them experienced the same situations, being that there are so few Black lawyers, that it is to be expected that you may be discounted or misjudged.”
Q: What was your favorite thing – or the most impactful thing – about participating in the conference?
Anaya: “My favorite part was being able to speak to one of the panelists who was also in the Air Force. She taught me how to properly divide my time and reinforced the idea of self-care – many lawyers find themselves stressed because of the lack of time dedicated to taking care of themselves. After receiving her contact and making a true connection in the field, I walked out of the conference feeling confident about my future endeavors at law school.”
Q: How do you feel this opportunity has helped you prepare for your future?
Anaya: “Between making a reliable connection and learning lessons from experienced professionals, I was able to plan what was necessary for my success. The panelists provided plenty of clubs, organizations, and contacts available to people who are approaching this career field, and now I’ll be able to utilize them as well. I thank everyone who took the time out of their day to plan and/or attend this conference. After hearing the stories and results of those who never gave up, I found myself mesmerized by the idea that what you seek will find you if your passions drive your motivation. I hope to see Dean involve their students, those studying Pre-Law and other majors, in more activities such as this. It was a wonderful experience that I feel is beyond helpful, and I’d gladly attend again.”
We’re proud of our students for attending and representing Dean at such an important and impactful conference! Learn more about Pre-Law at Dean College.