Graduate Profile: Heddy Pierce-Armstrong, L’22

Student turns childhood memories into promising career in labor law

Heddy Pierce-Armstrong is graduating from the University of Kansas School of Law this spring and looks forward to discovering what the future will hold.

Heddy Pierce-Armstrong
Heddy Pierce-Armstrong, L’22

Pierce-Armstrong’s inspiration to attend law school came in the form of a hard-working, take-no-lip mother of two – her own mother. She recalls some of her earliest memories spent on a picket line while her mother’s union was on strike.

“I also remember sitting at the very front of every monthly union meeting with my mom and her friends who were unafraid to speak their minds about injustices in the workplace,” Pierce-Armstrong said. “During these times, I was so proud of my mom.”

Pierce Armstrong’s mother served as a shop steward at her plant. She attended grievance meetings and represented people at the plant facing various forms of discipline.

“I describe her job as being like a lawyer inside the plant,” Pierce-Armstrong said.

She had such great admiration for her mother’s passion and fight that she decided to earn a law degree and get the official title of lawyer.

A longtime resident of El Dorado, Pierce-Armstrong stayed close to her roots and earned her degree in women, gender and sexuality studies at KU before continuing directly on to KU Law as a summer starter.

“I wanted to be somewhere that was a truly collegial atmosphere. A place where students were supported by faculty and change was welcomed,” said Pierce-Armstrong. “At Admitted Students Weekend, I really saw the culture of the school.”

It took no time for Pierce-Armstrong to fully immerse herself in the law school experience, compiling an impressive list of extracurriculars including co-president of the Student Ambassadors; president of OUTLaws and Allies; participant in the Shook Hardy & Bacon Diversity Scholars Institute; and a member of Women in Law, Public Interest Law Society, First-Generation Professionals, Non-Traditional Law Students, the Native American Law Students Association and the Black Law Students Association.

“The clubs, particularly the diverse student organizations, have helped me retain interest, purpose and drive while in law school,” said Pierce-Armstrong.

Heddy Pierce-Armstrong, Melinda Foshat and Samantha Lippard post in front of Green Hall
Heddy Pierce-Armstrong, Melinda Foshat and Samantha Lippard worked together at the Legal Aid Clinic

She also took advantage of the hands-on learning programs offered at KU Law, participating in both the Legal Aid Clinic and Mediation Clinic.

“The clinics have been immensely valuable to my future as an actual attorney,” Pierce-Armstrong said.

Pierce-Armstrong dedicated a blog to the Legal Aid Clinic and the people who keep it running earlier this year, discussing a multitude of reasons why every student should take advantage of the learning opportunity.

Gathering more real-world experience, Pierce-Armstrong competed in mock trial and moot court competitions, including the National Native American Law Student Moot Court (NNALSA) competition which she recalls as one of her favorite law school memories. As a 1L, she traveled with the moot court competition team to observe the competition in San Francisco.

“I was so lucky to learn in my first year just how successful KU NALSA had been in the past,” Pierce-Armstrong said. “I also watched two very talented KU mooters advance to the semi-finals that year. Getting to go on that trip and seeing the talent that existed in that area of expertise drew me in to participate on the moot court team throughout law school.”

Pierce-Armstrong competed in the NNALSA competition in 2021 and 2022. She also competed in the All-Star Mock Trial Bracket Challenge in 2021.

In terms of academic courses, Pierce-Armstrong has taken a unique route as labor law is not a common area of focus, but she praises KU Law for helping accommodate her needs.

“For example, there is not specific labor law curriculum at the school,” Pierce-Armstrong said. “However, that ended up not mattering because I was able to kind of create a carved-out labor curriculum to show future employers that I was truly invested in the work.”

Pierce-Armstrong earned a competitive fellowship with the Peggy Browning Fund, established to prepare the next generation of advocates for workplace justice.

“My application stood out because of my proven interest and education that showed I wanted to work with or for a union,” Pierce-Armstrong said. “KU Law prepared me for the workforce by being flexible and helping to offer classes that were necessary for my future as well as assisted in connecting me with people whose interests align with mine.”

After graduation, Pierce-Armstrong plans to take a break and recoup from the whirlwind of law school and spend more time with family.

She will call on her education and experiences at KU Law as she continues on to her professional career, and she will always remember the childhood memories that got her here.

“I heard so many women’s voices loudly at union meetings. I saw marginalized people stand up for their needs,” said Pierce-Armstrong. “I witnessed the union help families down on their luck.”

She looks forward to fighting for unions by negotiating equitable contracts and representing union members in arbitrations.

“As a lawyer, I will have the needed skill to make the most impact possible,” Pierce-Armstrong said.

–By Sydney Halas

This post is the seventh in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black, Parker Bednasek, Cortez Downey, Ashlyn Shultz, Dahnika Short and Trey Duran. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Welcoming law library presence celebrates retirement

Jeff Montgomery retiring after 46 years

Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery.

After 46 years at KU Law, Jeff Montgomery is retiring.

The circulation and serials department manager for the Wheat Law Library started working with the law school as a graduate student, shelving books in “old” Green Hall – now known as Lippincott – in 1976. He joined the law library staff full-time in 1981.

Since then, he has built relationships with the thousands of students who have passed through the law library.

“That’s been my mission all these years. I know where they’re coming from and I know how stressful it is and how miserable it can be, so I’ve always tried to make this a stress-free zone,” he said. From renewing books for students to printing something a student needed, Montgomery’s philosophy has been to make students’ experiences as smooth as possible.

“I just tried to treat them like I would like to have been treated,” he said.

Knowing everyone’s name is part of that approach. The law library keeps photo sheets of the current and recent law classes behind the circulation desk. Going back to the early 1990s, Montgomery has made a special effort to review seating charts and photo sheets to learn each student’s name.

“I have always felt like learning somebody’s name was a form of respect,” he said. “I just thought that was a nice thing to do for them, so they weren’t just a number. I think they appreciated that.”

For the past three decades, Montgomery has organized the Barber Emerson Bluebook Relays. The raucous KU Law tradition tests first-year students’ legal citation skills. Teams from each Lawyering Skills section race through Wheat Law Library to locate and record references as quickly — and accurately — as possible. Montgomery plans it all and keeps score.

The Student Bar Association honored Montgomery at an event in April, presenting him with a poster signed by current students. Current and past law faculty, staff and alumni gathered for a retirement reception at Green Hall in May. 

In retirement, Montgomery is looking forward to well-earned time to relax.

— By Margaret Hair

Graduate Profile: Trey Duran L’22

Student champion for diversity and inclusion to become victims’ advocate

Trey Duran will graduate from the University of Kansas School of Law this month, and they look forward to using their legal knowledge to give back to the people of Kansas.

Trey Duran
Trey Duran, L’22

“I am excited about contributing back to the public and using the skills I gained at KU Law to help people with their legal problems,” Duran said.

After taking the bar exam, Duran will become a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) attorney with the Topeka office of Kansas Legal Services.

“During my 2L summer, I was a legal intern with the Wichita office of Kansas Legal Services. I worked with Greg Gietzen, L’20, who was a VOCA attorney at the time and represented people who were trying to get protection from abuse orders,” Duran said. “Using my education to help other people was always my goal.”

Duran spent most of their life in Kansas, growing up in El Dorado and completing their undergraduate degree in political science at KU. As an undergraduate, Duran held several roles with the KU Student Senate, including serving as the senate’s director of diversity and inclusion. When the time came to look for law schools, there was a clear path to Green Hall.

“After my undergraduate education at KU, I felt very connected to Lawrence,” Duran said. “I knew that I wanted to practice law in the state of Kansas.”

At KU Law, Duran was the 2L representative for the Hispanic American Law Student Association (HALSA) and was later elevated to president. Duran continued to work with KU’s campus government, serving as a law student senator during their 1L year. They were also a legal intern for the Legal Aid Clinic and an articles editor for the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy.

“The pandemic caused most extracurricular activities to reduce their activities. However, Journal was able to continue its full activities remotely, and I gained invaluable critical thinking, writing and research skills from that experience,” Duran said. “I worked with great teams, and I am proud of the publication we produced.”

As president of HALSA, Duran played a vital role in the planning and execution of the 2022 Diversity in Law Banquet, sharing the responsibility with the HALSA executive board – Jamie Treto, Amanda McElfresh, Joanna Alvarez and Lauren Stahl.

“It was the first time most HALSA members gathered together since early 2020,” Duran said. “It allowed us to celebrate the accomplishments of KU Law alumni, like the Honorable Mary Murguia, who recently became the first Latina to ever serve as the chief judge of a federal appellate court.”

As they reflect on their time at KU Law, Duran recalls fond memories with their 1L small section leader Professor Laura Hines.

Duran’s 1L small section led by Professor Laura Hines

“During her Civil Procedure class, my small section had a lot of fun together while learning,” Duran said. “My favorite memory is when my small section members brought a toaster, frozen waffles, syrup, paper plates and utensils, and we had a waffle party during a Civil Procedure class.”

Duran has enjoyed their time at KU Law and feels ready for the next opportunity.

“KU Law prepared me in both classrooms and courtrooms,” Duran said. “I studied and worked with a community of very passionate and intelligent classmates and faculty.”

-By Sydney Halas

This post is the sixth in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black, Parker Bednasek, Cortez Downey, Ashlyn Shultz and Dahnika Short. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Graduate Profile: Dahnika Short, L’22

Background in health care inspired student to attend law school

A passion for health care ultimately inspired non-traditional law student Dahnika Short to attend the University of Kansas School of Law.

After graduation, she will continue her journey through a clerkship with Hon. Toby Crouse, L’00, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Short’s road to KU Law looked different than most of her peers. She earned her first undergraduate degree in life sciences from Kansas State University in 2011. Short then went on to earn a nursing degree from the KU School of Nursing in 2015 before deciding to attend law school a few years later.

Dahnika Short
Dahnika Short, L’22

“I had a great career as a nurse,” said Short. “Health care is something I am still very passionate about.”

After earning her first undergraduate degree, Short served as a health education volunteer in the Peace Corps, working in Moldova. She helped provide seminars to locals on topics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, STI prevention and domestic violence.

 “That experience only strengthened my desire to be in the medical field,” Short said.

After returning from the Peace Corps, Short moved back to Kansas City to begin her education in nursing. Halfway through training, she realized she did not want to work in the traditional hospital setting.

“I was much more interested in the bigger picture. How do people access health care? What are the barriers? How do race and socioeconomic status play a role? What about access to healthy foods and education?” Short said.

Still, Short thought she should experience working life as a nurse. She found employment at a small clinic, where she could discuss “holistic wellness and barriers to accessing health care with her patients.” But law school never left her mind.

After seriously considering how law school could deepen her knowledge about policies that impact health care, Short knuckled down and began studying for the LSAT. After performing well on the entry exam, she knew now was the time to tackle law school or regret it forever.

“I chose KU Law because it felt like home,” said Short. “When touring, I instantly felt welcomed by everyone. I was also impressed by the alumni connections.”

Even as a busy mother, Short stayed active with extracurriculars during her time at Green Hall as a Dean’s Fellow, member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council and even helped develop a new student organization – the Non-Traditional Law Students Association.

Shorts says her most impactful law school extracurricular was as a comment editor for the Kansas Law Review.

“While it was a lot of work, I enjoyed bonding with and working alongside incredibly smart and kind people,” Short said.

She was not just motivated by her peers during law school. Short also found inspiration and support within her professors, three of which stood out.

She enjoyed learning from Professor Tom Stacy over the course of four classes throughout law school.

“Professor Stacy brings a thought-provoking, in-depth perspective to criminal law – my favorite area. He really made me think of the why behind criminal law,” said Short.

Short praises Professor Kyle Velte for her ability to reach students.

“Professor Velte did an excellent job of breaking down complex topics (hello, hearsay) and truly cares about her students,” said Short.

The Legal Aid Clinic brought Short together with another favorite – Professor Melanie Daily.

“She was an excellent mentor – incredibly well versed and knowledgeable in the law with equal amounts of empathy for her clients,” said Short. “Professor Daily also deeply cares about and is supportive of her students.”

Short feels ready to start her new career after three years of preparation and the support of many Jayhawk lawyers.

“I’m so glad I went to law school,” said Short. “It was a long road to get here, but it was totally worth it.”

Armed with her new education, Short looks forward to the future.

“I am most excited to challenge myself, to be an advocate and to work to ensure that systems operate more equitably,” Short said.

-By Sydney Halas

This post is the fifth in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black, Parker Bednasek, Cortez Downey and Ashlyn Shultz. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Graduate Profile: Ashlyn Shultz, L’22

Mentoring first-year students was a standout experience for KU Law banner carrier

Photo courtesy of Ashlyn Shultz.

The first year of law school is full of challenges. For Ashlyn Shultz, learning how to overcome those challenges – and passing that knowledge on to her fellow students – has been a defining law school experience.

“My 1L year was tough – as everyone’s is – so I relished the opportunity to help fellow law students navigate those difficulties,” Shultz said.

Shultz was a teaching assistant with the Lawyering Skills program during her 3L year, and she worked as a peer tutor for part of her 2L year.

“I was bolstered by a love for the Bluebook – which unfortunately is not a common sentiment. Along the way, I discovered a love for teaching and corny jokes,” she said.

The Open and Shultz Case team poses in Green Hall with their Bluebook Relays trophy.
“Open and Shultz Case” – the team Shultz coached for the 2021 Bluebook Relays – won the first-place trophy. Photo by Andy White / KU Marketing.

Shultz remembers being one of “a bunch of wide-eyed yet terrified 1Ls” in her small section Torts class, taught by Professor Laura Hines. One day during a lunch-hour event, her section learned about the law school’s grading curve right before they headed to Torts.

“We, of course, were a bit jarred by what we had just learned, so Professor Hines was kind enough to take the time and explain that the curve is there to help everyone,” Shultz said. “This was only the first of many times our small section was able to have heart-to-heart chats with Professor Hines; she was always the one to remind us that we could get through law school.”

As one of the top students in the Class of 2022, Shultz will be the school’s banner carrier at the KU Law Hooding Ceremony during Commencement Weekend. In addition to her mentorship roles, Shultz has worked as a staff editor and articles editor for the Kansas Law Review and was a member of the Christian Legal Society.

Shultz is part of the first group of KU Law students to graduate through the LEAD (Legal Education Accelerated Degree) Program at Kansas State University. Students in the program complete their undergraduate degrees during their first year of law school, earning both an undergraduate and a law degree in six years. KU Law also has LEAD partnerships with the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Wichita State University.

During her time at Kansas State, Shultz had the chance to attend get-togethers with fellow LEAD students from her own campus and KU. When she got to Green Hall, there were friendly faces to greet her.

“I knew I wanted to practice in Kansas, but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go to law school – or undergrad, actually,” Shultz said. “I heard through the grapevine about the LEAD program starting at K-State my incoming year. I was so excited, I went home and immediately applied to K-State. The rest from there is history!”

Originally from Manhattan, Kansas, Shultz majored in political science and philosophy at Kansas State.

After her graduation from KU Law, Shultz will return to Manhattan to work at Arthur-Green, LLP, where she hopes to help clients with estate planning.

“There’s nothing like seeing the concern in someone’s eyes melt as they sign their finished trust documents and find themselves with some security for the future. I hope my work can take that concern off clients’ shoulders,” Shultz said.

— By Margaret Hair

This post is the fourth in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black, Parker Bednasek and Cortez Downey. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Graduate Profile: Cortez Downey, L’22

Student leader pursuing a passion for privacy law

Cortez Downey in graduation regalia
Photo courtesy of Cortez Downey.

During his second year at KU Law, Cortez Downey took a course in Privacy Law. The class, taught by Professor Najarian Peters, set Downey on a career path.

“Professor Peters introduced me to the complex, fascinating, and ever-changing world of privacy law, and it has become a passion of mine,” Downey said.

After graduating this month, Downey plans to join a large law firm in Houston as a data privacy and cybersecurity attorney. In addition to taking courses in privacy and cybersecurity law, Downey founded the KU Privacy & Cybersecurity Society, a student organization that promotes current legal issues in the field. He also attended the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Global Summit in Washington, D.C. in April.

“KU Law prepared me for the workforce by offering several classes in my field of interest – privacy and security,” Downey said. “Also, I found it beneficial that some of my courses were taught by adjunct faculty currently working in their respective subject area. This positioned them to incorporate some of their day-to-day into the learning, which I found valuable.”

This semester, Downey joined nine classmates in Washington, D.C. as part of the 6th Semester in D.C. Program. Students in the program spend their final semester of law school working in field placements and taking classes in the nation’s capital. The experience of being in D.C. during the historic confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court was especially impactful, Downey said.

“Being in a new and exciting city – particularly one with so many lawyers – was a great way to meet people and expand my network,” Downey said. “Being in D.C. during Justice Jackson’s confirmation and being able to attend the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Global Summit were amazing experiences.”

Downey has been an active student leader at KU Law, working with organizations including the Black Law Students Association, Student Ambassadors and Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council. As president of the Black Law Students Association, Downey facilitated self-care, wellness education and meditation sessions for fellow students, and led efforts to raise over $4,000 for local charities during the annual Food & Textured Hair Care Drive. Downey has been co-president of the law school’s Student Ambassadors for two years, planning recruiting events and mentoring incoming students.

In 2021, Downey received the Law Class of 1949 Award for Leadership for the 2L class. The award is given annually to students who, in the opinion of the faculty, contributed most significantly to the overall experience of students in Green Hall. During three years at KU Law, Downey built a record of service and scholarship that completing legal internships through the Tribal Judicial Support Clinic and Mediation Clinic.

His favorite law school memories are of celebrating local teams with his classmates – from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win during his first year to “watching the Jayhawks win the NCAA championship at a local KU alumni hangout in D.C.,” Downey said.

Originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, Downey earned his undergraduate degrees in biology and Spanish from Oklahoma State University. He worked for four years with the Houston Independent School District as a high school teacher and college & career advisor before enrolling at KU Law.

As he gets ready for his career in privacy and cybersecurity law, Downey is looking forward to a new type of advising role.

“I am excited about growing in my capacity as an attorney and mentoring other aspiring attorneys, particularly those interested in privacy and/or security,” he said.

— By Margaret Hair

This post is the third in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black and Parker Bednasek. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.