Tanishka Cruz

MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Thousands of children are currently in deportation proceedings without the right to an attorney. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of managing the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Special Immigrant Juvenile Project, which has provided life-altering legal representation to more than 150 immigrant children. Fighting on the frontlines every day to keep families together and providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable immigrant populations has been my greatest accomplishment.

HOW DREXEL HELPED: Drexel’s unique emphasis on experiential learning, collegial energy and entrepreneurial spirit set the stage for a transformative law school experience. That experience coupled with the meaningful relationships I established with my professors and co-op mentors — who encouraged me to fearlessly challenge the status quo — helped make me the lawyer I am today.

MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: To build a thriving law practice where I’m working on the forefront of immigrant rights issues and leading the charge in improving immigrant access to legal representation and justice.