SALT LAKE CITY — Nubia Peña, a recent graduate of the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law, was recently named as one of the top 25 law students in the country by National Jurist magazine for her commitment to social justice, empowering marginalized communities and developing new young leaders of color.
Peña, who grew up as the daughter of a single parent in Philadelphia, watched as her mother worked several jobs to provide for their family of five. As a young immigrant from Mexico adjusting to life in the U.S., Peña knew a path to success wasn’t going to be easy in her early years, but that didn’t stop her from eventually moving to Utah and attending law school.
“In many ways, I could have followed a path that was not one of excellence, triumph or success. I could have become another statistic and failed to ever accomplish anything of great significance,” Peña said in a statement. “I was, however, blessed with a mother who served as a phenomenal example of kindness, compassion and service to those in need. She taught me the value of a strong work ethic and instilled in me a desire to advocate for those with less and to give my life to serving a meaningful and greater purpose.”
Peña said she hopes to one day become a prosecutor specializing in sexual assault cases as well as a professor — and perhaps one day, an elected official.