Beaver Reflections:
I graduated from Beaver in 1988 and loved it. I appreciated the intensity of the studies and curriculum and also the independence students had. I had wonderful relationships with teachers, many of which continue today. Two teachers in the English Department have had a lasting impact on my life, Hilary Andrade-Thompson and Ellen Zucker. I became very engaged with the material they taught and also learned how to think analytically. That led to me being an English major in college and later going to law school.

What is #happeningnow in your life:
After graduating from Beaver, I did a program called Teach for America and was stationed in Texas. I also did student teaching in South Central Los Angeles right after the Rodney King riots. From these experiences, I segued into working with emotionally disturbed adolescents in a group home setting in Watertown, Massachusetts, and saw that a lot of the kids were court-involved, acting out in ways that ended up having them charged with crimes. I found out there was a division of the public defender agency in Massachusetts that deals with juvenile delinquents. I went to them and said, “What do I need to do to come work for you?” and they said, “Go to Northeastern Law School and come here as a co-op.” And that’s what I did. After law school I started at a small law firm focusing on adult criminal defense. I started my own practice in 2016 where I mainly focus on criminal appeals.

“I had come from what could have been a really disadvantaged situation, growing up with a single mom and not having a lot of resources, to being extremely fortunate enough to have had the incredible opportunity that Beaver provided education-wise and socially to push me forward.”

– Michelle Menken ’88

Advice to Beaver students:
I know the demographics of Beaver have definitely changed since I was there. However, I still see Beaver as a place where there is a lot of privilege. My advice is to recognize how much you have and be grateful for it. Use your intelligence, your skills, your privilege, and your education to think of the global picture and do as much good as you can.