Meet the Mentors
Scroll through peer mentors to see info! (If you request one-on-one mentoring, you'll be able to enter your top 3 preferred mentors if you want.)
Matthew Armbruster
Senior | Legal Studies, Social Welfare, Criminal Justice
Hello everyone! I am senior majoring in Legal Studies and Social Welfare with a Certificate in Criminal Justice, and I will be graduating this spring. I am currently applying to police departments in the Madison area as I hope to work in criminal investigations either on the state or federal level in the future. I also plan on continuing my education through a masters in either cyber security, homeland security, or another criminal justice focus. I interned with the Division of Criminal Investigations over the past semester and was introduced to many different areas of the criminal justice field. I am happy to help with any questions related to internships, applying for jobs, and/or any other concerns you may have about school or careers after college. Other than my education I spend time working as an EMT and enjoying hobbies such as reading, spending time outdoors, traveling, and working on my family's apple orchard. Feel free to reach out to me at my email mbarmbruster@wisc.edu.
Faith Kim
Senior, Legal Studies | Criminal Justice | East Asian Studies
Hi everyone! My name is Faith and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I’m a senior studying legal studies, criminal justice, and East Asian studies and I hope to attend law school within the next few years. After that I want to return home to Los Angeles and practice criminal law. I’ve interned and gained experience at a number of places, including the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Undergraduate Writing Fellows Program, and the Ibaraki Christian University, located just a few hours north of Tokyo. When COVID did not exist, I enjoyed traveling and right before the pandemic hit, I had just came back from a 2-week vacation in South Korea and Japan. Currently I’m studying for the LSAT and I’d be more than happy to answer any questions about the CJLS program or the beginning stages of planning for law school! I am available via email at fkim@wisc.edu, Zoom, text, Instagram, or whatever else works for you!
Hazel Behling
Junior | Legal Studies, PoliSci, Environmental Studies, Gender & Women's Studies, Criminal Justice
Hi! My name is Hazel (she/her) and I am a junior majoring in Legal Studies and Political Science with certificates in Environmental Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, and Criminal Justice. I plan to take the LSAT during my gap year and eventually attend law school in hopes of pursuing a career in Civil Rights Law/Human Rights Law. Previously, I worked at the capitol for 2 years as a legislative intern for a state representative, and this year I had the opportunity to manage her campaign for re-election (Which we won!!) so if you have questions about deciding between the political realm and the legal realm I can definitely help. A fun fact about me is that this summer I had the opportunity to co-create an organization called Cultivative Coalition. Throughout the summer our organization met with the school board and school administration in our hometown to create changes that will make the school district more inclusive. Feel free to follow @cultivativecoalition on Instagram. My preferred method of contact is email habehling@wisc.edu but if you are more comfortable with texting or calling please let me know so we can exchange numbers!
Amber Lahti
Senior, Psychology | Criminal Justice
I am currently a senior studying psychology with a certificate in criminal justice and a certificate in education and educational services. I plan on taking a gap year or two in Americorps and then attend grad school to become a school psychologist. I have an on-campus job, and I have been a research lab member with the Lab for Family Well-being and Justice in the School of Social Work as originally an undergraduate intern through the criminal justice program and then as a directed study undergraduate. When I am not busy, I enjoy wandering down State Street and around Madison with my friends, hammocking in the sun, buying candles, and snuggling with my cats. An interesting fact about me is that I am very much so afraid of birds, especially chickens. I am available to talk through whatever communication method!
Instagram = amber_nicole214
Nadya Siddique
Sophomore, Philosophy | Legal Studies | Studio Art
I am Nadya Siddique and I am a sophomore. I am double majoring in Legal Studies and Philosophy, as well as earning a certificate in Studio Art. I hope to go to law school right after my senior year and to become a litigation lawyer. My interests include downhill skiing, water sports, hanging out with friends, and traveling. I am also involved in greek life through Kappa Alpha Theta. I have various connections with some current UW Law School students who offer great advice. I am pretty knowledgeable about classes to take and how to efficiently complete all the required classes. My availability is pretty open, so send me an email at nsiddique@wisc.edu if you need help with anything or have questions!
Annabelle Tsao
Senior | Biology, Criminal Justice
My name is Annabelle and I am a senior majoring in biology with a certificate in criminal justice. I am interested in going into forensic science and hope to end up in a forensic/DNA lab. Upon graduation, I plan on finding a job at a lab so that I can gain work experience before applying to forensic lab jobs. On campus, I work as an undergraduate researcher in a biochemistry lab assisting a graduate student with his research. Before COVID, I was having the time of my life studying abroad in Singapore! I am pretty familiar with the science courses on campus, but am also open to helping students who have general questions about studying abroad or the criminal justice field. In my free time I like to cook new recipes and go hiking! Feel free to contact me at atsao4@wisc.edu if you have any questions!
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Emily Kehl
Junior, Psychology | Criminal Justice | Legal Studies
Hello! My name is Emily Kehl and I am a junior. My major is psychology and i’m doing the criminal justice certificate. I also am on a pre-law track. I hope to attend UW’s law school! I cant wait to be a practicing lawyer one day. My hobbies include volunteering, working out, and spending time with my roommates and family. I am pursuing a criminal justice internship this summer, hopefully at a law office in the Madison area. On campus I volunteer with badger volunteers and I also am a member of the pre-law fraternity. I can help students with course selection, major/certificate selection, joining organizations, and internship prep! You can email me at eakehl@wisc.edu.
Ellie Donaldson
Junior, Spanish | Social Work | Criminal Justice
Hi! I am a junior studying spanish, social work, and criminal justice. While I am only getting a certificate in CJ, it's my field of focus in my social work path. I have completed a CCAP research project and facilitated meetings between social justice leaders and local business owners. I can help you network and make connections relating to your school, work, or community goals! I am outgoing, very responsive, and would love to make friends with people who love true crime (currently listening to Morbid podcast, hello weirdos!), music, and art! My availability is very open and can help you navigate enrollment and DARS questions. Or just send you pictures of my bunny and kitten! You can contact me by emailing ehdonaldson@wisc.edu or follow my insta, @ellehoped
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Morgan Bloch
Senior, Psychology | Legal Studies | Criminal Justice
Hi everyone! My name is Morgan Bloch, and I am a first-generation senior studying psychology, legal studies, and criminal justice. I will be attending law school next fall and hope to practice law back in my hometown. Some of my hobbies include gardening and working out/living a healthy life. I interned with the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project which is run out of the law school, and I was hired back as an undergraduate assistant. I also interned in the Capitol for a few months before COVID. A fun fact about myself is that my family makes our own maple syrup! I look forward to answering any questions you may have about courses, applying to law school, finding internships, etc. The best way to contact me is through my email: mcbloch@wisc.edu.
Morgan Smith
Senior, Psychology | Criminal Justice
My name is Morgan Smith and I’m a senior majoring in psychology with a certificate in criminal justice. I will be graduating in May of 2021. After graduation, I am hoping to go to graduate school. I have applied to Master of Social Work, Master of Counseling Psychology, and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology graduate programs for the fall of 2021. During my time at UW-Madison, I have acquired research experience, internship experience, and have taken a variety of courses in various subjects. I am able to offer advice on the graduate school application process, obtaining research or internship positions, and what types of courses might be best for you. In my free time, I enjoy reading, golfing, and visiting National or State Parks! I am available during the day by email at mcsmith22@wisc.edu or we can set up a Zoom call. If there is another way you would prefer to connect with me please let me know!
Fun fact: I recently did the most adult thing I’ve ever done and adopted a cat! She is an orange tabby whose name is Candy Corn but she goes by CC.
Ellie Stark
Senior, Legal Studies | Finance | Risk Management | German
I’m a senior, majoring in Legal Studies, Finance, and Risk Management with a certificate in German. I am studying for the LSAT right now with the hopes of going to law school within a few years to pursue securities/financial regulation or public interest law. I have interned for an attorney general campaign, US Probation and Pretrial Services Office, SEC, and WI DOJ. Outside of class, I am involved with the Student Services Finance Committee, RMIS, the Wisconsin Film Festival, and am President of the Pre-Law Society. I love watching horror movies and baking - though I have burned every macaron I have ever tried to make. A fun fact about me, I got bit by a duck during one of my internships! You can email me at emstark@wisc.edu with any questions you have or to set up a time to talk!
Rachel Anderson
Senior, Legal Studies | Poli Sci | Criminal Justice
Hi! My name is Rachel Anderson, I am a Senior at UW-Madison majoring in Legal Studies and Political Science with a Certificate in Criminal Justice. After graduation, I am planning to work in an administrative office for UW-Madison and hopefully move on to a state government office. In my free time I like to watch reality tv shows with my roommates, make woven keychains, and read (would love to chat about our recommendations!) I have worked in the US House of Representatives in Washington DC for a semester and have connections throughout several different offices in the UW system. I have pretty open availability so feel free to reach out to my email at rmanderson22@wisc.edu and we can figure out the best way to connect!
Vivian Wong
Junior, Legal Studies | Social Welfare | Criminal Justice | Chinese
Hello! My name is Vivian, and I am currently a Junior graduating in the Spring of 2021 studying Legal Studies and Social Welfare with certificates in Criminal Justice and Chinese. After graduation, I hope to attend law school somewhere that is out of the Midwest as I want to explore what is out there for me. I have experience working as a Budget and Finance assistant at UHS as well as working at the WI Department of Justice. I have also interned at the Capitol for a year and I will be interning at the Criminal Appeals Unit at WI DOJ too. So, I can definitely help with searching for opportunities to work and intern along with building your experiences and skills. I am an out-of-state student, so I can also help with finding your "home" here at Madison. I can be reached through any form of contacts such as email (vkwong3@wisc.edu) and Instagram (@vivi.iinn).
Toni Houston
Senior, Legal Studies | Poli Sci | Sociology | Criminal Justice
I'm Toni Houston. I'm a senior at UW-Madison majoring in Legal Studies, Political Science, and Sociology, with a certificate in Criminal Justice. I am planning to go to law school this coming Fall and later become an attorney working in either criminal justice or international law. My preferred method of contact is email (tdhouston@wisc.edu). A fun fact about me is that I once had a viral video on YouTube when i was in high school.
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Rosie Gruen
Senior, Psychology | Legal Studies
My name is Rosie Gruen. I’m a fourth year student double-majoring in psychology and legal studies. I am planning on attending law school after a gap year. I haven’t started applying yet, but I can give advice for the LSAT. I am aspiring towards a career working in criminal law or public policy. I am passionate about social justice and civil rights. A fun fact about me is that I am on the executive board for Humorology here on campus, which is the largest student-led philanthropy in the state of Wisconsin! I am available to chat by email, text, phone call, Zoom, or whatever works for you!
Kendall Newman
Junior | Legal Studies, History, Educational Policy
Hey there! My name is Kendall, I use she/her/hers pronouns, and I am a part of the DC Posse program. I'm currently a junior studying legal studies and history with a certificate in educational policy studies. I'm extremely passionate about topics related to reproductive justice, mental health, and education, specifically connected to marginalized communities. The biggest thing I've learned in college is that sometimes things don't go as planned, and college is an amazing time to explore and try everything. While I love legal processes and advocacy, I hope to find a career connected to wellness such as becoming a psychologist. On campus, I am a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, the support services coordinator at the CWC, and a housefellow. I'm obsessed with music, love being active, and like poetry and painting. I'm happy to help you figure out class preferences, major requirements, academic adjustments, and any other help needed for you to be successful. I'm pretty open to whichever form of communication you feel the most comfortable with, but we can start with email (knewman4@wisc.edu) and go from there. Looking forward to talking with you!
Makayla Petersdorff
Senior, Psychology | Sociology | Criminal Justice
Hey! My name is Makayla Petersdorff. I’m a senior (I’ll be graduating in December 2021) majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a certificate in Criminal Justice! I’m hoping to go to graduate school for clinical psychology. My end goal is to be a therapist at an inpatient psychiatric unit for adolescents! I’m super passionate about mental health and I’d love to answer any questions you have! Additionally, I’m a research assistant for the Cognitive Development & Communications Lab here at UW, so if you have questions about research or getting involved with research I can surely answer them! I also work at UW hospital in the inpatient psychiatric unit. There are a lot of opportunities at the hospital for volunteer work in various units, I’d be happy to talk to you about that! Finally, I’m part of the psychology club on campus! Some of my favorite things to do in my free time are attend badger games, hangout with my friends, listen to music (my favorite artist is Juice Wrld), watch netflix/disney+/tik tok, travel, and bake! My preferred method of contact is text and/or video chat but I’m open to whatever! I can’t wait to work with you and help make your college experience one you’ll never forget! :)
Socials:
Instagram: @makpetersdorff
Twitter: @makpetersdorff
Snapchat: @makpetersdorff3
Lauren Mertz
Junior, Psychology | Criminal Justice
I'm a junior majoring in psychology and with the criminal justice certificate. After undergrad, I'm planning on going to get a Master's degree in either clinical psychology or forensic psychology. Both degrees would be a precursor to later in life earning a PsyD in clinical psychology. I want to work in federal law enforcement as a negotiator or forensic psychologist, anything that can get me involved in investigative work. I can help students who want to get involved with advocacy programs and find jobs related to the criminal justice field in Madison. When I'm not working or studying, I do a lot of painting and listening to crime podcasts (I'm obsessed with Up and Vanished and would love to talk conspiracy theories). I am available to set up calls or video chats through my email lmertz@wisc.edu. Feel free to email me about anything, even if you just have some hot takes on crime TV shows!
Ja'Lia Butler
Senior, Poli Sci | Legal Studies | Criminal Justice
My name is Ja’Lia Butler and I am currently a senior at UW-Madison majoring in Political Science and Legal Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice. Upon graduating, I plan on securing a full-time job in my career field for my gap year. After my gap year, I will attend law school with hopes of eventually becoming an Anti-Trust and Trade Regulation Attorney. My preferred method of contact would be my email (jpbutler2@wisc.edu). A fun fact about me is I started my own business during quarantine. Feel free to follow us on Instagram (@thelabrecollection)!
Regan Hawkins
Junior, Legal Studies | Psychology | Criminal Justice
Hi! My name is Regan Hawkins and I’m currently a junior. I am doubling majoring in Legal Studies and Psychology, and I am also pursuing certificates in Criminal Justice and Chican@ and Latin@ Studies. I love to hike, paint, and throw pottery. I am the newsletter editor for the Criminal Justice Reform Team, a volunteer in the BASES program, and I have worked as an undergraduate TA for Psych 225: Research Methods. I am currently studying to take the LSAT because I plan to attend law school after graduation. I love true crime TV shows, podcasts, and books, and I can’t want to meet y’all!
Email: rmhawkins@wisc.edu
Instagram: regan_hawkins_
If you’d rather text, talk on the phone, Snapchat, FaceTime, Zoom, etc., just let me know! :)
Sophia Torres
Senior, Sociology | Legal Studies | Criminal Justice | Chican@/Latin@ Studies
Hi! My name is Sophia Torres, and I am currently a senior double majoring in sociology and legal studies with certificates in criminal justice and chican@/latino studies. I hope to take my LSAT in June and attend law school in the next year! I have various experiences from interning at the State Capitol, Public Defender's office and working under two different undergraduate research projects. My top interests with law deal with immigration and criminal justice so let's bond over how we can rebuild the legal system entirely rather than reform it. Fun fact about me is that I am from Miami and I've moved 20 times in my lifetime, which isn't very long. In my free time, I enjoy reading and attending theatre. With that said, I am pretty flexible with my schedule and would love to help you find your way in Madison! Also, I've got two huskies and I work at a pet hotel hence the white dog hair on my shirt.
Instagram: sophia.gt
Snapchat: sophiet9394
Amanda Schiffman
Senior, Legal Studies
My name is Amanda Schiffman, and I am a senior at UW-Madison majoring in Legal Studies in the Honors Program. I am hoping to go to law school after graduation and specialize in business law, specifically contracts/litigation. I am the president of a pre-law club on campus called Phi Alpha Delta, and I just took the LSAT last summer. I have worked at the Wisconsin State Capitol as a legislative intern, and I am currently writing a senior thesis on racial disparities in the criminal justice system. I grew up in San Diego, California so I love to go to the beach and surf! Feel free to email me at akschiffman@wisc.edu so we can exchange numbers or set up a video call!
Bailey Kusilek
Senior, Psychology | Criminal Justice
Hello! My name is Bailey and I am a senior studying psychology and criminal justice. After I graduate I will be attending graduate school for Social Work next fall. I am currently interning for Paja Charles’s Lab for Family Wellbeing and Justice and am also the president of the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Club. These two experiences have introduced me to a lot of different contacts within the criminal justice system and given me a lot of valuable experiences, both of which I would love to share with you! Outside of school I love to be outdoors and explore new places. Some fun facts about me are that I worked at a summer camp for 3 years. I am available for any sort of contact you would like, email, video chat, phone call, texting. Whatever works best for you!
Email: bkusilek@wisc.edu
Meet Our Advisor
Martine Delannay
Legal Studies and Criminal Justice Certificate Program Advisor
8137 Sewell Social Sciences 1180 Observatory Drive Madison, WI 53706 (608) 262-2083 www.criminaljustice.wisc.edu