Jessica Arreola
THIS IS...
A GAME-CHANGING ADVANTAGE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Juris Doctor, 2020
TOP 20
UNM School of Law holds multiple national rankings
#1 Best Law Schools for Native Americans
#2 Best Law Schools for Hispanics
#10 Best Law Schools for Public Defenders
#17 Best Graduate Law Clinical Training
When Jessica Arreola sought to help fellow parents in UNM’s School of Law receive support for child care, she had no idea it would be a part of changing a policy that would help thousands of families throughout New Mexico.
In order to obtain child care assistance from the state, graduate students have been historically required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. However, many students were unable to do so while completing their degree and meeting program requirements.
Working with fellow law student Kateri West, Jessica was connected with UNM Law alumna Kate Girard, General Counsel at the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department—established in 2019 by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. An emergency amendment to expand child care resources to graduate students was implemented indefinitely. This change highlights the Governor’s administration’s effort to increase access to quality early care and education.
The policy update will not only help UNM students, but multitudes of other graduate and postgraduate students at universities around New Mexico.
