NYLS’s 2025 Orientation: Building Community and Embracing Civic Leadership
New York Law School (NYLS) welcomed the Classes of 2028 (Day) and 2029 (Evening) at Orientation this August, greeting them with a week of learning, connection, and community designed to set the stage for their law school journey.
The program opened with remarks from Dean and President Anthony W. Crowell, along with Ella Mae S. Estrada, Associate Dean and Vice President for Enrollment Management, Student Financial Services, and Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; John E. Estes ’95, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Matt Gewolb, Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Institutional Strategy; Erin Felker Bond ’08, Associate Dean for Academic Planning and Career Development; and Dean of Faculty William P. LaPiana.
“Every day that you come in through these doors, you’ll gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of how the ideals of democracy give light to individual freedom and opportunity, and how people seek redress and achieve justice,” said Dean Crowell. “Keeping an open mind and open heart to pursuing common goals of fairness and justice is something that you all must bring to the classroom on the first day, and doing so will make you successful.”
Estes’s address emphasized the value of intellectual curiosity. Encouraging students to pursue it, he said, “It’s not enough to simply complete a task. You have to unpack it, look behind the outcome, look at the rule, and understand why it exists. Think about the why. And ask yourself a second question: ‘What can I do to improve on that outcome?”
Anthony W. Crowell
Ella Mae S. Estrada
John E. Estes ’95
Matt Gewolb
Erin Felker Bond ’08
William P. LaPiana
Throughout the week, incoming 1Ls engaged in a wide-ranging program that introduced them to NYLS’s academic and professional opportunities. Sessions explored the foundations of the study of law through multiple frameworks; professional development; health, wellness, and mindfulness; restorative justice; and NYLS’s signature Think BIG curriculum. Community-building was central—students shared meals with faculty, Student Bar Association leaders, and Student Ambassadors.
On Wednesday, we hosted our Community Days program, a mainstay of New Student Orientation, and a part of the 1L curriculum. The innovative program helps students to develop cross-cultural competency by, among other things, ensuring they have a factually accurate historical context in which to understand the development of law and the need to build essential skills for practice in a multicultural society.
Another highlight of the week was an interactive seminar led by Dean Crowell: The Rule of Law and Foundations for Civic Leadership, with special guests Hon. Anthony Cannataro ’96, Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, and Hon. Hasa A. Kingo, Acting Justice of the New York Supreme Court. The seminar was designed to encourage incoming students to begin shaping their professional identities as leaders. It concluded with them taking a symbolic lawyers’ oath—a first at the Law School.
This year’s entering class is the largest in recent years, and they arrive with the highest median academic credentials in the Law School’s 134-year history. Of 413 students, 359 are enrolled in the Day Division and 54 are enrolled in the NYLS Pro Evening Division. Reflecting the diversity of New York City, students speak 35 languages, hail from 28 states, the District of Columbia, and eight countries, and bring a plethora of life experiences. 22 percent are the first in their families to attend college, and 84 percent are the first in their families to attend law school.*
As Orientation came to a close, the newest members of the NYLS community left with a strong sense of purpose and community. Their reflections capture their palpable excitement, as well as the warm and welcoming energy that marked the beginning of their journeys.
*Incoming class statistics updated as of August 22, 2025.
What excites you about joining NYLS?
Michael De Jesus ’28: “I’m super excited about starting the next steps to the rest of my life, and I can’t wait to see what kind of good I do in this world.”
(From left to right) Maria Salazar ’29 Evening, Kathia Paz ’29 Evening, Danielle Ashurov ’29 Evening, Khadija Sardar ’29 Evening, Kaitlin Kratzmer ’29 Evening
Maria Salazar ’29 Evening: “Learning. I’ve been working as a paralegal since I graduated college, and now I get to learn the theory behind practice. That’s really what inspired me to go to law school—I want to do more to help the kind of people I interact with every day.”
Kathia Paz ’29 Evening: “Since Day 1 of Orientation, I’ve felt so much support. It makes me that much more excited to figure out what realm of law I want to pursue. I’m also excited to lean on the resources that NYLS has to give, and to see how they’ll help me become the great lawyer that I want to be.”
Danielle Ashurov ’29 Evening: “I’m really excited to be a student again. I love to learn, and everyone I’ve met so far in the evening program has been so warm and welcoming and willing to help one another. It’s next level.”
Khadija Sardar ’29 Evening: “Finally pursuing the dream that I’ve had since childhood: advocating for people who may not have a voice of their own and learning how to apply the law as intended—for the people, with the people, by the people.”
Jess Hennen ’28: “I’m excited to finally be working towards my end goals. I eventually want to become a judge, and this is the first leap to get there. I’m also excited to learn about all the different types of law. It’s all just a very thrilling adventure, and I’m ready to start!”
Navkait Bains ’28 and Emmanuel-Shamma Momplaisir ’28
Navkait Bains ’28: “The opportunity to further my education, expand my network, and grow as a person. I’m also excited to learn more about the law and work towards helping those who need it.”
Emmanuel-Shamma Momplaisir ’28: “I’m excited that I get this new opportunity to network, meet new people, and continue working towards my future.”
Maria Veronica Macias Carreno ’28: “For a long time, people have told me that law school changes your life. So, I’m excited to become the best version of myself here at NYLS.”
Ayana Merritt ’28: “Getting to know all my fellow students, especially since it’s been impressed upon us that that’s who we’ll be working with in the future. And experiencing the warm environment of NYLS has also been exciting—so far, everyone’s been so welcoming and has made the resources that are available to us very clear.”
Natalie Massimi ’28: “Meeting new people and being introduced to my future classmates, colleagues, and friends!”
Madeline Unruh ’28: “Meeting all my fellow 1Ls. It’s been cool to see how different circumstances have brought us all to the same place.”
