KU Law welcomes Class of 2028
LAWRENCE – The University of Kansas School of Law welcomed the Class of 2028 to Green Hall in August. This year’s incoming class is made up of 122 J.D. students from 22 states and 58 undergraduate institutions.
The class of 2028 sets another KU Law record for the highest combined median LSAT score and GPA. This is the fifth consecutive year that the incoming class has topped this mark. View a full class profile.
Meet 10 students who shared their reasons for choosing KU Law, their backgrounds and what they hope to accomplish with their legal education.
Meet the students:
Randy Cockerel received his bachelor’s degree in criminal science and certificates in legal studies and criminal law from Missouri Southern State University. Cockerel graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was a member of the Criminal Justice Student Association and Pre-Law Pride. Before becoming a Jayhawk, he worked as a 911 dispatcher for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and interned with the Cherokee County Attorney's Office from May to August of this year.
“KU Law stood out to me because of its combination of academic excellence, practical training and a truly supportive community,” he said. “I wanted a law school that would challenge me intellectually, but also help me grow personally and professionally, and KU Law does just that.”
Cockerel is keeping an open mind about what area of law he will practice upon graduation. His main goal is to build a strong foundation in legal reasoning, research and advocacy so he can be prepared for any path he chooses. He is excited to explore different areas through coursework, clinics and internships to see where his skills and passions align. Ultimately, he hopes to use his law degree to make a meaningful impact, whether by helping individuals, supporting businesses or shaping policy.
Cristina Corrales graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and minors in political science and business administration from Wichita State University. During undergrad, she was involved in the Criminal Justice Student Association, the Hispanic American Leadership Organization and the Student Ambassador Society.
“I have always known I wanted to go to law school, and KU Law felt like the natural choice,” Corrales said. “Kansas has always been my home, and KU Law’s strong commitment to public interest and its supportive academic environment align with my values and will help me achieve my ultimate goals.”
After graduation, Corrales aspires to pursue a career in immigration law. She is passionate about expanding access to justice for underrepresented communities so that everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can be heard. She hopes to work towards making the legal system more approachable and equitable for those it often overlooks.
Tobias Groene received his undergraduate degree in business administration from Wichita State University while working full-time as a firefighter and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician serving the citizens of Lawrence and Douglas County. He is returning to school after almost a decade of public service.
“I chose KU Law because of my Kansas roots and the abundance of resources KU Law provides,” Groene said. “As someone who grew up in Lawrence, I did not want to pass up the opportunity to study in my hometown. When I toured KU while going through the application process, I noticed the many resources KU Law students have access to. KU surrounds its students with what they need to be successful while in school and preparing for their careers.”
While he’s not certain what he wants to do after law school, he plans to find a way to continue to serve his community. He is interested in learning how the law shapes municipalities and how to apply the law to benefit the citizens they govern.
Sumaya Hussaini graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public diplomacy. During her time at USC, she was a member of the policy debate team and participated in the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service program. Before law school, she worked in Washington, D.C. as a public affairs advisor for the U.S. Department of State, where she collaborated with lawyers and policy experts to communicate economic sanctions to the public.
“I chose KU law because it was the best value option as a top 50 law school with affordable tuition,” she said. “Having grown up in Kansas, I was also drawn to the opportunity to be closer to family while pursuing my legal education.”
Hussaini hopes to use her law degree in public service or international law. She is also interested in exploring areas such as civil rights and immigration policy. While she is still exploring where her path will lead, she is drawn to work that promotes equity and justice.
Brooke Nelson earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Arkansas–Fayetteville and went on to complete a master’s in higher education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Before coming to KU Law, Nelson worked as a career advisor, where she led national trainings on culturally responsive practices in the workplace. In addition, she served as the advisor for CU Boulder’s LGBTQ+ Living Learning Community and volunteered with the Youth Job Center to support underrepresented students in their professional growth.
“I chose KU Law for several reasons. First, the combination of affordability and academic excellence made it an exceptional value,” she said. “I was also drawn to the school’s emphasis on practical, skill-based learning and unique experiential opportunities like the Project for Innocence. But the biggest influence on my decision was my mom — a proud KU alum. I heard stories about her time here and the incredible memories she made, so it feels especially meaningful to follow in her footsteps. I’m thrilled to finally be able to call myself a Jayhawk, just like her.”
Nelson hopes to use her law degree to stand up for those who may not have the power or platform to stand up for themselves and to challenge those who misuse their authority. Her goal is to become an advocate who works to address injustice, uplift communities and help build a more equitable and inclusive society. She is particularly interested in labor and employment law, education law and civil rights litigation — though she is also open to discovering new areas of passion as she continues through law school.
Victoria Roberts earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Utah Valley University, graduating cum laude. As an undergraduate, she gained hands-on legal experience working as a paralegal and participating in the competitive Pre-Law Fellowship with the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion. She also volunteered at an immigration clinic hosted by Brigham Young University and served as a research assistant during her senior year. In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Roberts was an active member of the Black Student Union and the Pacific Islander Initiative.
“I chose KU Law because from the very first interaction, I felt genuinely welcomed and wanted. The admissions team took the time to get to know me as a person, not just as an applicant on paper,” she said. “During my visit, every student and faculty member I met made me feel like I already belonged here. That sense of community, combined with the generous scholarship KU offered me, proved to me that KU truly invests in its students’ potential. KU Law didn’t just open a door for me; it made me feel like I was meant to walk through it.”
With her law degree, Roberts hopes to expand access to justice for underrepresented communities. Coming from a first-generation, low-income background, she has seen firsthand how many people are left out of the legal system simply because they lack resources or representation. Although she is not yet sure what type of law she would like to practice, Roberts is passionate about mentorship and expanding opportunities for students from marginalized backgrounds who may not see the law as accessible to them.
Jeremy Ross joined KU Law after more than 20 years of service in the Marine Corps. He received his undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Colorado, where he was also a participant in the enlisted-to-officer program. One of his military assignments was serving as the Marine Corps' Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at KU from 2019-2022. During this time, he earned a master's degree in international studies from KU.
“I chose KU law because of the very positive experience I had while working at KU as an ROTC instructor,” Ross said. “I was delighted to see during my admitted student visit to KU Law that the same sense of community, commitment to excellence and dedication to students that I saw as a university affiliate and master's student was also present in the community at Green Hall.”
Ross chose law as his post-military career because he wanted to do something that was anchored in a profession. He strongly believes that the foundation of the United States is the rule of law and the security of liberties and rights for all people equally before the law. He looks forward to finding a niche where he can help support and advance those pillars of society.
Ariel Spry attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she majored in sociology. During her time in undergrad, Spry was involved in the athletic bands, having marched in the Pride of Minnesota Marching Band and played in the Gopher Groove pep band for hockey, basketball and volleyball.
“I chose KU law for a few reasons — first, because I want to establish my career in the Kansas City area. Second, because KU law has a great culture,” she said. “The faculty is dedicated to student success, and students lift each other up.”
While Spry is not completely sure what she wants to do upon graduation, she is particularly passionate about elder care. She said she knows that there will be many opportunities available to her during her three years at KU Law to learn about other legal fields and solidify her plans. Spry loves to learn and plans to leave the door open when it comes to finding new interests.
Zachary Stacy received a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010 with the intention of attending law school. Due to economic factors from the Great Recession, those plans were put on hold. Stacy then worked at a major international auction house, where he oversaw numerous auctions and handled more than $10 million in collectible books and literary manuscripts. In 2021, Stacy put books aside to open a fast-casual veggie burger restaurant with his partner. When the restaurant closed, he took the opportunity to fulfill his original ambition and attend law school.
“I only knew I wanted to use the opportunity to attend law school to leave Texas, so I applied broadly and visited several campuses across the country,” he said. “Over the course of Admitted Students Weekend, I gradually became more convinced through each presentation or interaction with faculty that KU was where I wanted to be. It helped that I was immediately charmed by Lawrence, and there are so many local opportunities.”
With his law degree, Stacy hopes to build on his experience with collections and pursue work related or adjacent to archives or arts institutions, either on the acquisitions or deaccession side, focusing on provenance, patrimony laws and clear title. He is also passionate about labor issues and civil liberties and is open to additional avenues that he never previously considered.
Ashlyn White received her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in legal studies from the University of Arkansas. Before KU Law, she served as the vice president of Alpha Lambda Delta — the freshman honor society for the University of Arkansas. She also entered law school with prior legal experience, having interned under attorneys in family law for the past three summers.
“I chose KU Law not only for scholarship, but also because I was born in Lawrence, before I moved to Kansas City, Missouri, then Dallas,” White said. “Lawrence is such a special place to me, specifically the basketball; my family had season tickets, and I was always ecstatic to join my parents and brother at the games!”
With her law degree, she hopes to advocate for parties, such as women and children, who may not have a strong voice for themselves. She hopes to help them find their voices and continue their lives with courage. White strives to let everyone she meets know that they can have control over their lives and shouldn’t succumb to others’ wishes, ideas or actions.