The William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law is proud to welcome first-year students Emily Rose, Ariana Guerrero, and Rachel Sznajderman – recipients of scholarships awarded to incoming students who have a demonstrated commitment to social justice. The scholars are selected through a competitive process, including an interview with a faculty selection committee.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the class of 2027 scholars to Texas Law this fall. Emily, Ariana, and Rachel are outstanding leaders with significant public service experience,” said Nicole Simmons, director of the Justice Center, which administers the scholarships. “We are grateful to the G. Rollie White Trust for expanded support this year, which has created scholarships for two incoming students. The Trust’s generous, unwavering support of public service at Texas Law is truly appreciated.”
Meet the class of 2027 scholars:
Equal Justice Scholar
Emily Rose graduated from college in 2019. She majored in Psychology and Human Development and was a varsity athlete. She worked in Austin as an AmeriCorps member for two summers during her undergraduate years and moved here after graduating from college. Initially, she worked for Integral Care as a community-based intensive rehabilitation specialist helping individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in Travis County. In 2021, she transitioned to the Travis County Public Defender’s Office, where she was a case worker.
“While providing social services to those who are chronically unhoused and living with co-occurring disorders, I witnessed the institutional injustices faced by marginalized communities. I am passionate about advocating for comprehensive alternatives to incarceration, with a focus on healing over punishment,” said Rose. “I plan to pursue a career providing direct representation to members of my community as a public defender. I would eventually like to use these experiences to advocate for changes to the broader criminal legal system through policy reform and impact litigation.”
Rose looks forward to attending Texas Law. “The range of opportunities with a public interest focus at Texas Law will prepare me to be the strongest possible advocate for future clients. I am excited to work with the Justice Center to build upon Texas Law’s culture of service while learning from professors, classmates, and attorneys,” she said.
G. Rollie White Public Service Scholars
Ariana Guerrero, born in the Rio Grande Valley and raised in Mexico, majored in International Relations and Global Studies and Race, Indigeneity and Migration at UT Austin. She has worked on immigrants’ rights issues as an intern with a host of Texas-based legal nonprofits (including La Union Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) in San Juan, the ACLU of Texas in Houston, and the Equal Justice Center in Austin) and as a Brumley Next Generation Scholar with the Strauss Center for International Law and Security at UT Austin.
“My family’s experiences in the Rio Grande Valley and my upbringing have always been my biggest motivators to pursue a legal education and make systemic change for the marginalized communities I grew up in,” said Guerrero. “At Texas Law I know I will be able to share my professional and personal experiences, learn, and grow alongside other public servants who are committed to fighting for social justice change and our disadvantaged communities. As a recent first-generation Latina graduate, I am excited to join a welcoming community that values not only academic excellence but me, my continuous efforts and commitment to fight for structural legal change.”
After law school, Guerrero hopes to work both within the US and internationally. “I aim to continue my activism by defending the rights of migrants through impact litigation initiatives in US courts. At the same time, I hope to work through international non-profits to launch reconstruction plans in countries throughout Latin America and to develop proactive migrant human centered policy solutions,” she said.
Rachel Sznajderman graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, where she majored in political science and sociology. As an undergraduate, she interned with the ACLU of Missouri and ArchCity Defenders. After graduating from college in 2021, she worked as a corrections specialist for New York County Defender Services in New York City. She advocated for clients incarcerated in city jails, particularly Rikers Island.
“I plan to spend my career fighting for decarceration and the humane treatment of incarcerated people. After law school, I hope to work as a public defender, advocating for the release from jail of as many people as possible. Down the line, I am interested in pursuing a career in prisoners’ rights impact litigation,” said Sznajderman.
Sznajderman is excited about attending Texas Law. “I’m going to law school, and specifically chose to attend UT, because I believe the skills and experience gained here will shape me to be the best possible advocate for people incarcerated in jails and prisons,” she said. “This scholarship will allow me to do so in community with students and faculty whose values and visions for the future reflect my own. I cannot think of a better environment in which to pursue my legal education.”